Alternate names: Širvintos [Lith], Shirvinty [Rus], Shirvint [Yid], Szyrwinty [Pol], Širvintų, Širvintas, Širvintai, Shirvintos, Shirvintay, Shervint, Russian: Ширвинты. שירווינט-Yiddish. 55°03' N, 24°57' E, 29 miles NNW of Vilnius (Vilna), 16 miles SSE of Ukmergė (Vilkomir). 1900 Jewish population: 1,413. During the 1930s under the Republic of Lithuania, many Jews moved to South Africa, the US, and Palestine. About 700 Jews remained in 1940. After the German invasion in June 1941, German soldiers burned the three synagogues. Jews suspected of communist leanings were sent to Ukmerge and killed. In August, all Jews were forced into a ghetto and murdered on September 18 in Pivonija forest. [March 2009]
MASS GRAVE: Pine forest of Pivonija. about 4 km from Ukmerge; 177-178; pic. # 315-318 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad