History Lithuanian Jews

jews began living in lithuania 13th century. in 1388 granted charter vytautas, under formed class of freemen subject in criminal cases directly jurisdiction of grand duke , official representatives, , in petty suits jurisdiction of local officials on equal footing lesser nobles (szlachta), boyars, , other free citizens. result, community prospered.

in 1495 expelled alexander jagiellon, allowed return in 1503. lithuanian statute of 1566 placed number of restrictions on jews, , imposed sumptuary laws, including requirement wear distinctive clothing, including yellow caps men , yellow kerchiefs women.

the khmelnytsky uprising destroyed existing lithuanian jewish institutions. still, jewish population of lithuania grew estimated 120,000 in 1569 approximately 250,000 in 1792. after 1793 second partition of polish-lithuanian commonwealth, lithuanian jews became subjects of russian empire.

lithuanian jews in second world war

the jewish lithuanian population before world war ii numbered around 160,000, or 7% of total population. @ beginning of war, 12,000 jewish refugees fled lithuania poland; 1941 jewish population of lithuania had swelled approximately 250,000, or 10% of total population. during german invasion of june 1941, 206,800 jews murdered nazis , lithuanian collaborators. notable execution locations in paneriai woods (see ponary massacre) , ninth fort.