HISTORY

Changing Borders and Countries

Timeline

1427 -  Duke Janusz I of Mazovia gave Przasnysz "civic rights" under Chelmo law.
Until the 18th century, the town was part of the Kingdom of Poland, Ciechanów District
1795-1807 -  Przasnysz was ruled by neighboring Prussia
1807-1815 - The town was under the authority of the Duchy of Warsaw, Plock Division
1815-1918 - Przasnysz became part of the Russian Empire (Congress Poland - Plock Province)
1918-1939 - The town was part of the independent country of Poland
1939-1945 - German troops occupied Przasnysz during World War II.    The town was part of Germany, East Prussia Province.

After World War II, Poland was under the control of the Soviet Union.  In the early 1990's the Soviet Union collapsed and Poland was re-established as an independent country.


Congress Poland Map 1831 shows location of Przasnysz.   For a larger version of the map, click on this link: 1831 Map





The Jewish Community of Przasnysz

Jews were present in Przasnysz in the 16th Century.  In 1808, there were 308 (22.5%*) Jews living
in the town.[3]  The Jewish population increased to 4500 (52%*) in the late 1880's [4].    In mid 1939, there was a Jewish population of 3,000.[5]

The Jewish community had a synagogue, beth midrash, schools, cemetery and orphanage.  Members of the community belonged to the "Bund", Agudat Israel, zionist organizations and various youth groups.
Traditional Judaism and Hasidism influenced the Jewish community.

The synagogue was destroyed during World War I.  It was rebuilt years later, only to be ruined by the German troops in World War II.  Click here for a  photo of the Synagogue (circa 1920) (Museum of Family History).

Many Jews fled Przasnysz during World War II.  In 1941, the Germans created a forced- labor camp.  A couple of years later, the camp closed and the prisoners were sent to a concentration camp.

Sources and for more information:


Virtual Shtetl.  Przasnysz page.  Information on the former Jewish community with photographs.

Sefer Zikaron Kehilat Proshnits.  Yizkor Book. Partial Translation of information about Przasnysz.  www.jewishgen.org

            * of total town population
            [3,4,5] www.sztetl.org.pl