Przytyk Memorial Book (Poland)

The Jews of Przytyk, Poland, had a vibrant community dating back to the 17th century. During the 1930s, they made up almost 90% of the town's 3,000 residents. As merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen, they helped bring the local economy back from near-collapse after the First World War.

But antisemitism was rising, fueled by economic tensions and the fear of Communism. A deadly pogrom erupted on March 9, 1936; the community never recovered.

The German army entered Przytyk in early September 1939. In March 1941, the Jews were ordered to evacuate to make way for a German military training ground. Most were forced into ghettos in nearby towns like Przysucha and Szydlowiec, ultimately facing murder in the Treblinka death camp.

Almost nothing remains of historic Przytyk. But these pages, first written in Hebrew by emigrees and survivors, and now translated into English bring it vividly to life.