History

Małgorzata Grzenda /

 Only few Jewish families lived around Lubawa and within the city before the first Poland's partition in 1772. In the following years during the Prussian rule number of Orthodox Jews increased significantly. In 1792 116 Jews lived in the city making up 8% of Lubawa population. Up to 1816 their number increased to 215. Also the percentage of Jews when compared with other inhabitants increased and came to 21%. Number of kehilla members was significantly high after 1820. In 1834 in the city there was 480 people of Jewish origins (19.2% of the population) and in 1867 kehilla reached its heighest with 532 members. There was a time that kehilla members made up more than 20% of the whole population. In 1871 there were still 523 Jews however the number of the city population increased resulting in the fact that Jews made up only 12.4% of the whole population. Begining with the 1880s Jewish families more and more often left Lubawa for bigger cities that could help them to make better living. In 1885 the kehilla had 417 members but in the few following years that number decreased and there were only 277 members. In 1910 there were 173 Jews but in 1921 only 26. It was the result of emigration wave that intensified after the city became part of Poland in 1920. At that time the kehilla was officially dissolved and only few Jewish families remained in the city. In 1931 38 Jews lived in Lubawa. In September 1939 German troops began the city occupation which affected the kehilla consequently leading to its close down. Part of Jews that remained in the city managed to escape before the war started, those who did not became victims of Nazis. In 1940 there were no Jews in Lubawa. The kehilla had its cemetry that was located outside the city and was established in the early days of the community. Synagogue was built in the middle of the 19th century. It was destroyed during German occupation together with the cemetery that was ploughed.

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Local history

Andrew Rajcher

In the early Middle Ages, a Saxon Prussian castle stood on the site of present-day Lubawa,  At end of the 12th Century, the surrounding areas were controlled by the Mazowsze dukes. At the beginning of the13th Century, it was handed over to the Teutonic Order. Around 1250, the settlement was granted city-status under the name of "Lubaviae" and the Teutonic Knights built a fortified castle.

In 1410, Teutonic troops from Lubaviae set off for Grunwald. From 1440, the village was part of the Prussian Union. After the Thirteen Years War, in 1466, Lubaviae belonged tothe Prussian Kingdom. From 1772, it lay within the Prussian partition.

In the second half of the 18th Century a Jewish community was established here. During the inter-War period, in 1931, it consisted of 38 Jews.

During World War II, in September 1939, German troops occupied the town. Very quickly thereafter, repressions began and the local synagogue was destroyed. In January 1945, Lubawa was liberated by Soviet troops. During the fighting, almost 80% of the town was destroyed.

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Summary

Location

Andrew Rajcher

The city of Lubawa lies in the Iława District of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province. In 1998, it had a population of 9,100. It is situated by the Sandela River on the Lubawa Rise.

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