History

Małgorzata Grzenda /

 First citizens of Jewish origin have already lived in Morąg since 1813 and in the following years their number has significantly increased. In 1814 there were already four Jewish families in Morąg. Up to 1830 the number of Jews increased to 39 and ten years later it was already 79. It was in 1850 that the number of kehilla members was at its heighest with 128 Jews (coming from 20 different families). However, the kehilla was not affluent and its members made living by mercerie and craftsmanship. In 1859 the kehilla officialy changed its status. Jews from surrounding villages were also part of that community. Still, in the second half of the 19th century significant decrease in the number of Jewish inhabitants afftected the city as many Jews migrated to bigger cities where better jobs could be found. However, the members of kehilla who stayed in the city still played a significant role in the public life-several of them served as clerks. Up to 1883 number of kehilla members decreased to 93 and this tendency also remained at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1905 in Morąg there were 61 Jewish inhabitants and at the turn of the year 1924/25 only 50, in 1930-43 and in 1937 it was 8 Jews that lived in the city. Slow breakdown of kehilla started around 1920s. It was in April 1933 when the Jews lost their main source of maintenance as a result of boycott of Jewish-owned stores by local population. Consequently Jewish emigration from Morąg increased and in 1938 only two Jewish families stayed, although they left the city soon after the Crystal Night.

It was already in 1920s that Jews in Morąg established their own cemetry. It was located near the former public execution place outside the city. In the 1940s the kehilla had its own house of prayer and mikvah which were located by Töpferstraße. In the city there was no separate Jewish school and children from kehilla went to public elementary school (Volksschule). They also attended religion class that were conducted by cantor. During the events of the Crystal Night (November 1938) flats of two families that remained in the city were ravaged. It is a mystery what happened to the synagogue, however most likely it was not burnt because of the concentrated city settlement. Destroying the synagogue would affect the surrounding buildings. Up to this day only 25 tombstones remained.

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Local history

Andrew Rajcher

In about 1280, on the site of the destroyed, previously Prussian, settlement, the Teutonic Knights built a wooden watch tower, around which developed a rural and commercial settlement.

In 1327, the settlement gained city-status under the name of "Mohrungen". In the first half of the 14th Century, the defence walls were reinforced while, in 1370, the Teutonic Knights built a stone castle. From 1440, the city was part of the Prussian Union.

After the Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466), it remained within the Teutonic Knights state. From 1525, Mohrungen became part of the Duchy of Prussia.

In the 17th Century as a result of the Swedish wars, the city collapsed. Despite this, Jews found their way here. In 1849, an independent Jewish community was formed with 122 people.

After World War I, Mohrungen remained in Prussia. During the inter-War period, in 1937, only 8 Jews lived in Mohrungen. During World War II, in January 1945, the city was captured by Soviet troops. After 1945, the city's name was changed to Morąg.

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Summary

Location

Andrew Rajcher

The town of Morąg is in the Ostróda District of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province. In 1998, its population was 14,900. It is located by Lake Skiertąg in the Iława Lake District.

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