Khislavichi (Russian: Хиславичи) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) and the administrative center of Khislavichsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located by the right bank of the Sozh River. Population: 4,138 (2010 Census); 4,617 (2002 Census); 5,013 (1989 Census).
Contents
Map of Khislavichi, Smolensky, Russia
History
Since the 18th century miasteczko (shtetl) Khislavichi (Polish: Chosławicze) was in Mstsislaw Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the partitions of Poland, it was transferred to the Russian Empire and included in its Mogilev Governorate. By the end of the 19th century, of the total population of 4,361, 3,642 were Jews and 739 were of Russian Orthodox faith. There were eight synagogues and two wooden churches. The settlement belonged to Saltykov Russian noble family.
The German Army entered Khislavichi on July 16, 1941. 800 Jews of the town were resettled in a ghetto. In September or October 1941, 120 to 150 Jews were murdered in a mass execution. On March 20, 1942, the Russian police entered the ghetto. Under the command of the German Security Police, they killed all the Jews of the ghetto about 150 meters northwest of the town in a ditch near the Machine and Tractor Station.