How the Devil Enlarged His Kingdom

The main goal of my work was to verify myths and stereotypes about Jews, circulating for decades. To do so I had to analyze unknown earlier sources dispersed among archives and private collections. Since the first Jew recorded in 1523, the Jewish population was growing steadily. The relations between both communities were generally correct.After the short stay of Germans in September 1939, when no Jews suffered, the Soviets took over. They were welcomed by few. The Soviets confiscated and nationalized most properties. In 1940 they carried 3 deportations that included foresters with families, families of inmates and refugees. From Ciechanowiec area they deported about 450 people, mostly Jews. In June 1941 they scheduled the 4th deportation with over 300 more Jews and Poles.The Soviet-German war of 1941 brought a German occupation, initially mild and with no anti-Semitic riots as elsewhere. Jews were locked in 2 ghettos, but only few Jews and Poles were executed. In mid-1942 Germans started to carry mass executions of both. In November 1942 Nazis tried to evacuate the ghetto and killed the group of young Jews in Pobikry. Many Jews tried to escape.