Obertyn


Postcard from Obertyn, ca. 1906	Holocaust memorial in Jewish cemetery, 2019

Sources:
- Russian Jewish encyclopedia
- Virtual Shtetl. Obertyn
- Холокост на территории СССР: Энциклопедия / Гл. ред. И. А. Альтман. - М.: Российская политическая энциклопедия (РОССПЭН): Научно-просветительный Центр «Холокост», 2009

Photo:
- European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative. Published by Center for Jewish art
- Biblioteka Narodowa Polona. Obertyn

Ivano-Frankivsk district, Ivano-Frankivsk region

Ivano-Frankivsk region - list of settlements and location of objects

Obertyn, 2023

Obertyn, urban-type village (since 1940) in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Known from the 14th century. In the 16-18 centuries - as part of the Commonwealth. In the 19th - beginning of the 20th century - in the province of Galicia as part of Austria-Hungary. In 1919–39 - in the Stanislav Voivodeship as part of Poland, in 1939–91 - as part of the Ukrainian SSR.

In 1765, in Obertyn lived 280 Jews,
in 1880 - 1949 (39.6%),
in 1900 - 2070 (39%),
in 1921 - 1131 Jews (24.2%).


Jewish cemetery in Obertyn, 2019

Jews lived in Obertyn since the end of the 17th century.
In 1765, the Jewish school was opened in Obertyn.
In 1895, a professional school was based on the expense of Baron Hirsch.

In 1840, Obertyn's rabbi was Shmuel-Shmilka Toybish (1808–1865), then - Itshok-Moshe Gross (? –1865), in 1865–1920 - his son Mordhe (1830 –1920), since 1920 - son-in-law of the last Avrom-Haim Shapiro (? - 1942).

In 1928, with the help of Joint a cooperative bank was opened, in the 1930s - a school with teaching in Hebrew.
In the 1920-30s there were branches of various Jewish parties and organizations.

On 9 September 1939, the town was invaded by the Red Army. The Soviets closed down institutions and banned all private business activities.

In June 1941, after the German invasion of the USSR and the Soviet retreat to the east, the city was taken over by Ukrainian nationalists who introduced a reign of terror. The situation improved for a short period of time when Obertyn was taken over by Hungarian troops. In August 1941, however, the city was invaded by the Germans, who introduced forced labour and numerous repressions against the Jews.

In April 1942, most of the local Jews were relocated to Kolomyia (apart from a small group of professionals and their families). Some of the relocated residents returned to Obertyn in May 1942.

In September 1942, ca. 400 Jews were relocated to Horodenka. They were then transported to the Nazi German extermination camp in Bełzec. Jews who had gone into hiding in the town or in the surrounding woods in an attempt to avoid displacement were hunted down and shot to death by the German gendarmerie and Ukrainian auxiliary police.

After the liberation of Obertyn on 23 March 1944, 26 Jews came out from hiding.