Velykyy Rakovets', Ukraine Великий Раковець, Yкраïна
also known as: Nagyrákócz (HU), Veľký Rakovec (CZ), Velikij Rakovec' (RU), Groys Rakovitz (Yid)
48°16' N / 23°09' E
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Velykyy Rakovets'
was part of the Kingdom of Hungary (11th century - 1920 and 1938-1944) with the name of Nagyrákócz
in Ugocsa megye (county), next part of Czechoslovakia (1920-1938) with the name of Veľký Rakovec
in Podkarpatská Rus (Sub-Carpathia), then part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1945-1991) with the name of Velikij Rakovec'
and, since 1991, known as Velykyy Rakovets', in the Irshavskyi rayon (district) of Zakarpats'ka oblast (county) of Ukraine.
In Yiddish, Velykyy Rakovets' was known as Groys Rakovitz.
Other spellings/names for Velykyy Rakovets' are Nagy-Rákócz, Velika Rakovec', Rakovec Veliki and Welykyj Rakowez.
Velykyy Rakovets' is located about eight miles east-southeast of Irshava (Ilosva).
Jews probably settled in Velykyy Rakovets' in the early 18th century with six Jewish families present in 1728.
In 1880, the Jewish population was 236 (of a total population of 2,074), and in 1910, 363.
By 1921, during the Czechoslovakian period, the Jewish population rose to 399. A number of Jews were engaged in agriculture, crafts and commerce. Jews owned 11 business extablishments, two flour mills and a distillery.
By 1930, the Jewish population decreased to 362.
With the Hungarian occupation of Velykyy Rakovets' in March, 1939, Jews were persecuted and pushed out of their occupations. In 1940-41, dozens of Jews from Velykyy Rakovets' were drafted into forced labor battalions and others were drafted for service on the Eastern front, where most died.
By 1941, the Jewish population had increased to 374 and it was at this time, a few Jewish families without Hungarian citizenship were expelled to Nazi occupied Ukrainian territory, to Kamenets-Podolski, and murdered there.
The remaining Jews of Velykyy Rakovets' were deported to Auschwitz late May, 1944.
A great many of the Jews from Velykyy Rakovets' were murdered in Auschwitz and any survivors settled elsewhere.
In 2001, Velykyy Rakovets' had about 4,545 inhabitants and no Jews live there today.
Sources (portions): The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, (2001) pp. 1381-82 Budapest, 1941
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