In the first half of the 19th century, the Hasidic movement developed dynamically in Krasnobród. At that time, there were several houses of prayer here, gathering supporters of tzadiks from Radzyń, Turzysk, Góra Kalwaria and Bełz. The number of Jews in the town increased after the ban on settling in the border area, enforced in 1822–1862, was lifted.

During the Polish-Bolshevik War (1919–1921), there were riots directed against the Jewish population. During this time, troops from Soviet Ukraine carried out a brutal attack and looting.

In the interwar period, Krasnobród had a synagogue, two prayer houses, a mikvah, a ritual slaughterhouse and a cemetery. There were also numerous cheders, two private schools, youth organizations and charities. Economic emigration became a typical phenomenon of this period. The destinations were mainly Palestine and South America.

After the outbreak of World War II, a large part of Krasnobród burned down as a result of bombing. The town subsequently came under German occupation. German troops executed many Polish and Jewish people. Jews were subject to forced labor orders, among others, asphalting roads and building fortifications along the border with the Soviet Union. Probably at the beginning of 1941, a Judenrat was established at the order of the Germans. Also, a ghetto was created, and Jewish refugees from Łódź, Włocławek and Zamość were sequestered there. The liquidation of the ghetto by the Germans began in 1942, when most of the prisoners were transported by train to the German Nazi extermination camp in Bełżec. The Jews who managed to escape were shot or died when the ghetto buildings were set on fire. In 1943, the occupiers destroyed the synagogue and both cemeteries.

The Description

The Jewish kahal in Krasnobród had two cemeteries, the older of which was probably established in the second half of the 16th century and operated until the end of the 18th century. It was replaced in the early 19th century by a new necropolis, located south of the town.

The so-called the new Jewish cemetery in Krasnobród is located on a forest-covered hill at Kościuszki street. It has been used until the German occupation during World War II, when it was destroyed by the Germans and the matzevas were used as building material for roads and buildings. A dozen or so fragments of tombstones and plinths have survived to this day, although they are seriously damaged; approximately 4–5 of them bear traces of illegible inscriptions. There are certainly more of them in the overgrown spots that are more difficult to access.

Author of the note: Magda Lucima

Właściciel praw autorskich do opisu: Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN.