The town is located in western Ukraine about 40 miles from Tarnopol. It was part of Poland from 1375-1772 and 1918-39, and part of Austria from 1772-1918. Jews were present in the town as early as the 15th century. At its peak in 1880, the Jewish population was about 4,000 (2/3 of the total population). The Germans arrived in the town on July 4, 1941, and a ghetto was created in 1942, at which time deportations began to the death camp at Belzec. The ghetto was liquidated in June, 1943. The postcard below (published during Austrian rule) depicts the synagogue in Podhajce.
Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, P. 1007.
Http://www.personal.ceu.hu/students/97/Roman_Zakharii/pidhajtsi.htm
http://www.homestead.com/Podhajce/
Copyright © 1998-2002 Edward Victor