Melnytsya (Melnitsa, Mielnica) | Volyn

Melnytsia is located about 56 km north of Lutsk. The first records of the Jewish community dates back to the 16^th century. In 1897, over 60% of the total population was Jews (1,599 Jews lived in the town). The majority of Jews were engaged in trade or lived off handcraft. Between the two wars the village was under Polish rule. There were several synagogues in the village. Zionist movements operated in the town until 1939, when Melnytsya was annexed by the Soviet Union, and all religious and cultural institutions and movements were banned. In 1939 until1941, many Jewish refugees arrived from Poland.  On the eve of the war 1,000 Jews remained in the village.  The Germans occupied the village on June 26^th, 1941.

The Germans occupied the village on June 26^th, 1941. Shortly after the occupation two anti-Jewish aktions were conducted. In early and late July 1941, 56 and 280 Jewish men (respectively) were killed under the pretext of being communists or Komsomols. They were shot outside the village supposedly by a police Battalion which stationed in Holoby at that time. In late summer-early fall 1941, all Jews were registered and marked with yellow distinguishing badges; however, they kept living in their homes until August 1942. They were forced to pay constant ransoms to the Germans. The ghetto which had about 1,200 Jews, included those who were brought from the nearing villages. It was located on two streets and was fenced in with barbed wire. It was guarded by local police day and night. On September 3^rd, 1942, the ghetto was liquidated and the remaining Jews were shot at the sand quarry southwest of the village, in the direction of Holoby. Before being marched to the execution site they were gathered at the meeting point.  According to an eyewitness, interviewed by Yahad, the Jews were forced to disrobe completely, get inside the pit and lie down facing the ground and then, the shooters would fire. The execution was conducted by German Gendarmerie assisted by local police.  Only few Jews managed to hide and to survive the Holocaust by joining partisans groups.