Gulbene file / תיק קהילה

These sources document the history of the town. Golbena in Latvia, with a special focus on the stories of The Jewish community The local community, which was established after World War I and was mainly engaged in trade, had at its peak a population of A few dozen souls who were involved in public life and Zionism. With the outbreak of World War II and the Nazi occupation in 1941, the town's Jews were arrested by the Latvian Police and were deported to the nearby village of Litana. There, after their property was looted, they Murdered in Yarmi And only one young man survived, according to the testimonies. The documents conclude that after the liberation of the area by the The Red Army In 1944, the Jewish community in the area was no longer rehabilitated.

Below is a comprehensive historical overview of the history of the Jewish community inGolbena (Gulbene), based on the attached archival sources. It should be noted that according to the sources, the city is located inLatvia (in the rope) Vidzeme, district From Madonna), and not in Estonia (C23-1f, C23-4f).

History of the Jewish community in Goulbene

The beginnings of the community and its development A small Jewish community organized inGolbena (also known as Vecgulbene and-Schwanenburg) after World War I (C23-1f, C23-4f). Most members of the community were engaged intrade, and they integrated into the public life of Latvian Jewry and contributed to Zionist funds and various charities (C23-1f, C23-4f). Statistical data show a gradual increase in the number of Jews in the city: in 1925, 26 Jews lived there (about 1% of the population), in 1930 their number increased to 65 (about 2%), and in 1935 there were 84 Jews, who constituted about 2% of the city's total population (C23-3f). Information appearing in the printed text indicates that in 1930, for example, 10 of the local Jews contributed to the collection The Foundation (C23-3f).

The period of Soviet rule (1940–1941) after Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact From 1939, Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in the summer of 1940 and a Soviet regime was established there (C23-1f, C23-4f). According to the sources, during this period the Jews of Golubena underwent changes in the public and economic spheres (C23-3f).

The Holocaust and the destruction of the community With the outbreak of war between Germany and the Soviet Union, Golubena was occupied by the German army in early July 1941 (C23-1f). In August 1941, the town's Jews were arrested by Latvian Police And were taken, along with Jews from nearby settlements, to the nearby village Litany (Litene) (C23-1f, C23-4f). There, after their money and belongings were taken from them, they were shot to death (C23-1f).

The sources refer to several reports and protocols detailing the events:

• A report dated February 1, 1942, reported the imprisonment of 84 Jews (C23-3f).
• A police protocol from September 30, 1941 documents the distribution of looted Jewish property (such as leather clothing and other items) among Latvian police officers (C23-3f).
• According to one version appearing in the text, he survived the massacre. Only one young Jew (C23-1f, C23-4f). In a note that combines printed and handwritten text, the name of a single survivor is mentioned as Gilson (Gilsen) (C23-3f).

The end of the war and the fate of the community At the end of 1944, the Red Army liberated Golubena (C23-1f). The sources state unequivocally that after World War II The Jewish community was not renewed. In place, and today there is no longer a Jewish settlement there (C23-1f, C23-2f, C23-4f).

Glossary and placemarks

• Vidzeme: A historical region in northeastern Latvia (C23-1f).
• Schwanenburg: The German name of the city is Golbena (C23-1f, C23-3f).
• Litene (Litena): A village near Golbena where the Jewish community was murdered (C23-1f).
• Keren Hayesod (Keren Hayesod): A central financial institution of the Zionist movement to which the city's Jews contributed (C23-3f).
• Vecgulbene: Another Latvian name for the city of Golbena (C23-1f, C23-3f).

List of sources