Kapčiamiestis is a town in Lithuania located near the confluence of Baltoji Ančia and Nieda Rivers.

History

Kapčiamiestis traces its history dating back in the early 16th century, then a manor was built. In 1777 a parish-school was opened here. In the town's cemetery, Polish-Lithuanian national hero,

Emilia Plater Countess Emilia Broel-Plater ( lt, Emilija Pliaterytė; 13 November 1806 – 23 December 1831) was a Polish–Lithuanian noblewoman and revolutionary from the lands of the partitioned Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Raised in a patriotic tra ...

, was buried in 1831. The town had an important Jewish community. The Germans entered the town on 22 June 1941. On 15 September 1941, all of the Jews were taken under high security to Lazdijai. There they were put into a

ghetto A ghetto, often called ''the'' ghetto, is a part of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially as a result of political, social, legal, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished t ...

established in Katkishes, one kilometer outside of

Lazdijai Lazdijai () is a small town in Lithuania located about east of the border with Poland. History It was established by Sigismund II Augustus in 1570 and granted Magdeburg Rights by Sigismund III Vasa in 1587. During World War II, Lazdijai was unde ...

, where Jews from neighboring villages were interned. On 3 November 1941 the Jews of Kapčiamiestis were murdered with the rest of the ghetto inhabitants. Kapčiamiestis was devastated by

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, after which most of the historical buildings were destroyed.

References

Towns in Lithuania Towns in Alytus County Suwałki Governorate Holocaust locations in Lithuania {{AlytusCounty-geo-stub