Memories from Dvinsk's file / תיק – זיכרונות מדווינסק

The research based on the files presents a comprehensive documentation of Latvian and Estonian Jewry throughout the 20th century. The materials combine dry statistics with personal testimonies and Semitic lists that commemorate the community before, during, and after the destruction.

Historical overview and key processes

The documents document a historical time sequence consisting of four main periods:

1. World War I and the deportation (1915): Documentation of the displacement of entire Jewish communities from the school areas in Latvia at the beginning of the war (H35-1f).
2. The period of prosperity and independence (1920-1940): Data on deep Jewish involvement in the economy and commerce. It was noted that in certain cities and specific professional sectors, Jews accounted for between 80% and 90% of activity (H35-2f).
3. The Nazi occupation and the Holocaust (1941-1945): A detailed description of the establishment of the Riga Ghetto and other ghettos in the area. The documents note the concentration process and extermination operations carried out under the German occupation (H35-1f, H35-2f).
4. The post-war Soviet period: Long lists of survivors who re-integrated into professional life in Soviet Latvia, with an emphasis on the fields of engineering and construction (H35-1f).

Demographic and statistical data

The study provides numerical data on the composition of the Jewish population in the main cities. It is noted that before the war there was a very significant Jewish presence in cities such as Riga, and the documents track the drastic changes in the number of Jews following the Holocaust (H35-2f). There is a breakdown of professions such as builders, engineers and craftsmen (H35-1f).

Key figures

The documents divide the mentioned figures into two main categories:

Victims, survivors and community members:

• Avraham Halevi: Appears in family or community records as a central figure (H35-1f).
• Isaac: A figure mentioned in the context of testimonies about ghetto life or lists of those who perished (H35-1f).
• Author/Researcher Family: The research includes a family tree and personal details about family members who experienced the 1915 deportation and the wars (H35-1f).
• Jewish engineers and builders (post-war): Lists of dozens of Jews who received professional titles such as "Outstanding Builder" in Riga after 1945 (H35-1f).

Occupation forces and collaborators:

• German occupation authorities: Described as directly responsible for the extermination policy and the establishment of ghettos (H35-2f).
• Local collaborators: Latvian and Estonian elements are mentioned who assisted the Nazi forces in guarding the ghettos and carrying out the deportations (H35-1f).

Summary of research findings

The documentation found in these sources (H35-1f, H35-2f) allows for the reconstruction of daily Jewish life in Latvia and Estonia. It highlights the sharp transition from vibrant communal life to almost complete destruction, and from there to the attempt at professional rehabilitation under the Soviet regime.

List of sources

• H35-1f : A research file that includes personal testimonies, genealogical lists of Jewish families in Latvia, and professional documentation of survivors during the Soviet period.
• H35-2f : Research documents focusing on statistical data of the Jewish communities in Latvia and Estonia, descriptions of ghetto life and the extermination processes in the Holocaust.

 

– H35-1f

– H35-2f

** end of Memories from Dvinsk files **

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