Lazdijai

Lazdijai
City

Coat of arms
Lazdijai
Location of Lazdijai
Coordinates: 54°14′N 23°31′E / 54.233°N 23.517°E / 54.233; 23.517Coordinates: 54°14′N 23°31′E / 54.233°N 23.517°E / 54.233; 23.517
Country  Lithuania
Ethnographic region Dzūkija
County Alytus County
Municipality Lazdijai district municipality
Eldership Lazdijai city eldership
Capital of Lazdijai district municipality
Lazdijai city eldership
Lazdijai rural eldership
First mentioned 1570
Granted city rights 1597
Population (2001)
 • Total 5,140
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)

Lazdijai ( pronunciation ) is a city in Lithuania located about 7 km (4.3 mi) east of the border with Poland.

History

It was established by Sigismund II Augustus in 1570 and granted Magdeburg Rights by Sigismund III Vasa in 1587.[1]

On November 3, 1941, 1,535 Jews were murdered in Lazdijai, including 485 men, 511 women and 539 children[2] The perpetrators were members of the Rollkommando Hamann, local policemen and Lithuanian nationalists.

In 1990 Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union, and new check points between the borders Poland and Lithuania were established and Lazdijai became the center that oversees and continues to regulate these operations. It is the birthplace of Lithuanian politician and producer Arūnas Valinskas and of Russian-American composer and violinist Joseph Achron.

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedyja Powszechna (Universal Encyclopedia). Vol. 17 (in Polish). Warszawa: S. Orgelbrand. 1864. p. 655.
  2. ↑ "Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania". holocaustatlas.lt. Retrieved 2017-07-15.


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