Lomzha, Poland

General

Lomzha was a town in the Bialystock district of Poland. The Jewish community dated from the later 15th century. By the start of the 20th century, the Jewish population was about 8,800 (almost 50% of the total population). This population remained stable until the start of the war. After the start of the war, the town came under Soviet occupation. The Germans occupied the town on June 22, 1941. During July, about 2,000 Jews were shot to death in the Galczyn forest. A Judenrat was established, and in August, a ghetto for over 10,000 Jews (including refugees) was created. In September, another 2,000 Jews were murdered in the forest. On November 1, 1942, the remaining Jews were sent to various transit points from which most were deported to Auschwitz.

Cover

Below are thumbnails of the front and back of a registered cover from Lomzha to the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, postmarked October 12, 1942. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Cover" in the left frame to return.

References

Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust (2001), P. 747

Ghetto

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