LOKHVYTSYA: Lokhvytsia, Лохвиця, Lokhvitsa, Лохвица, Lochvitza, לאָכ(ע)ווי, Łochwica, Lochvycja, Lochwiza, Lochwyzja

Alternate names: Lokhvytsia and Лохвиця [Ukr], Lokhvitsa and Лохвица [Rus], Lochvitza and לאָכ(ע)ווי [Yid], Łochwica [Pol], Lochvycja, Lochwiza, Lochwyzja at 50°22' N, 33°16' E, 80 miles NW of Poltava in Lokhvytsia Raion. Jewish population was 2,465 or 36% (1897), 614 or 2,095  (1939.) A Jewish presence dates from the mid-16th century. In 1636 50 Jews were killed during the Pavlyuik rebellion. The Jews in Lokhvitsa were mostly artisans or worked in commerce. Lokhvitsa was occupied by Nazia on September 12, 1941. Many Jews fled to the Soviet interior before. On May 12, 1942 the 287 Jews who remained were shot. The town was liberated by the Red Army on September 13, 1943.

JEWISH CEMETERY: A cemetery exists. No information.

MASS GRAVE:

• Yad Vashem: Holocaust history '[Nov 2018]

• LOKHVITSA I:     US Commission No. UA16040101
  Alternate name: Lochwica (Yiddish), Lokhvitza (Hungarian) and Lochvitsa (Slov). Lokhvitsa is located in Poltavskaya at 50º22 33º16, 180 km from Poltava and 101 km from Konotop and 121.1 miles E of Kiev. The cemetery is located N of town on Sokolovskogo Street. Present town population is 5,001-25,000 with 11-100 Jews.

• Town officials: Town Soviet Chairman Reva Petr Nikolayevich of (05356) 31549 and (05356) 31849. Mamonov Yuriy Ivanovich of Zhuravskogo Street 32.
  
• Regional: Regional Executive Committee of Poltava.
  
• Caretaker: Lahno Anna Grigor'yevna of Sokolovskogo Street 7.
  
• Others: Local Jews.
  

The earliest known Jewish community was in 17th or beginning of 18th century. 1926 Jewish population (census) was 2095. Effecting Jewish Community was 1636-50 Jews were murdered by Kozak, 1647 Khmelnitzky pogroms, 1918-1919 Petlyurovsky and Denikensky pogroms and Sept 1941-May 1942 Ghetto. Living in Jewish community were Rabbi Diskin and Composer Dunayevskyy Isaak Osipovich. The unlandmarked Jewish cemetery was established in 1971 with last known Jewish burial in Aug 1994. The urban flat land, part of a municipal cemetery, has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. There is no gate. 21 to 100 stones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 1971. No stones were removed. No structures exist. Some tombstones have portraits on stones and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. Municipality owns the property used as a Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are commercial or industrial. The cemetery boundaries are larger now than 1939. The cemetery is visited frequently by private visitors and local residents. This cemetery was not vandalized. Local/municipal authorities cleaned stones and cleared vegetation.. Occasionally, now authorities clear or clean. Moderate threat: existing nearby development. Slight threat: uncontrolled access, weather erosion and vegetation.
Sokolova Eleonora Eugen'evna of 253152, Kiev, Tychiny Street 5, apt. 68 [Phone (044) 5505681] visited site and survey completed on 03/18/1995. Dunayevsky Avraam Borisovich of Pushkinskaya str.18 [Phone (05356) 31682] was interviewed on 03/18/1995.
UPDATE: "...local people have taken the initiative to compile lists of those who died, always adding new names. ... I was shown such a list in a local museum, and I was presented with a copy of the list. Source: Jewish Heritage Report: http://www.isjm.org/jhr/nos3-4/ukrcem.htm [March 2002]
LOKHVITSA II:     US Commission No. UA16040102
See Lokhvitsa I for town information. The cemetery is located in NE of town on Lenina Street as reserved territory of the brick factory. Others: History Museum of Lochvitsa at Shevchenko Street 48. [Phone (05356) 31158].
The last known Habbad Hasidic burial was 1993. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked, isolated, suburban crown of a hill by water with no sign or marker. Reached by crossing other public property, access is open to all with no wall, fence or gate. There are no structures, but there is an ohel. 21 to 100 stones, about half in original location and between 25%-50% toppled or broken, date from 20th century. Stones were removed were incorporated into roads or structures. Some tombstones have portraits on stones and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The site used for Jewish cemetery and factory. Adjacent properties are commercial or industrial. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939 because of housing development and agriculture. The cemetery is visited occasionally by private visitors and local residents. The cemetery was been vandalized during World War II and frequently in the last ten years. Local/municipal authorities and Jewish Community in Lochvitsa patched broken stones, cleaned stones, cleared vegetation and fixed gate did the work. Now, occasionally individuals clean or clear. Very serious threat: uncontrolled access and vegetation. Serious threat: existing nearby development. Moderate threat: weather erosion, pollution and vandalism. Slight threat: proposed nearby development. See above for surveyor information and interviews.
LOKHVITSA II:     US Commission No. UA16040501
See Lokvista I for town information. The mass grave is located NE, 5 km from center. Others: Museum, Shevchenko Street 48 (director Lesik Sergey Vasilievich) and Poltava archive, Pushkina Street18/24 - Kukoba Ekaterina Ivanovna and Poltava Historical Museum.
The unlandmarked Jewish mass grave was dug in 1942. There is a list of the 287 Jews murdered. No Jews from other towns or villages were murdered here. The suburban hill has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road and crossing other public property, access is open to all. A continuous fence and non-locking gate surround the mass grave. There are no structures. The approximate size of mass grave is now 0.01 hectares. No stones were removed. Stones date from 1964. The mass grave has only common tombstones. Municipality owns property used for mass burial site. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Occasionally, organized individual tours, private visitors and local residents visit. This mass grave was not vandalized. Occasionally, authorities clear or clean. Serious threat: weather erosion. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and pollution. Slight threat: vegetation. No threat: vandalism, nearby development.
Interviewed on 03/17/1995 were Lesik Sergey Vasilievich [Phone (05356) 31158] and Ryazanskaya Vera Lvovna of Lokhvitsa, Shevchenko Street 17, Apt. 4 [Phone (05356) 31468]. See above for other survey information.