The shtetl of Ziezmariai was located on the main road from Vilnius to Kaunas. Records from 1889 indicate that Zeizmariai's Jewish community numbered 2765. Due to economic hardship and a rise in anti-Semitic activity, many Jews emigrated during the inter-war years. By 1940, there were only 981 Jews still living there. They worked as tailors, doctors, pharmacists, shoemakers, rabbis, artisans and teachers.
The Germans occupied Ziezmariai on 27 June, 1941. On 16 August, Ziezmariai police arrested 193 Jewish males over the age of 14 and 89 females. They were taken to Kaisiadorys and never returned. Sometime later, all remaining Jews -- mostly women, children and the elderly -- were rounded up, locked in the synagogue and guarded by local police. On 29 August, they were removed from the synagogue and taken to the Strosiunu Forest and shot.
The Germans occupied Ziezmariai on 27 June, 1941. On 16 August, Ziezmariai police arrested 193 Jewish males over the age of 14 and 89 females. They were taken to Kaisiadorys and never returned. Sometime later, all remaining Jews -- mostly women, children and the elderly -- were rounded up, locked in the synagogue and guarded by local police. On 29 August, they were removed from the synagogue and taken to the Strosiunu Forest and shot.
