Šakiai

Šakiai (pronunciation , Polish: Szaki) is a city in the Marijampolė County, Lithuania. It is located 65 km (40 mi) west of Kaunas. It is presumed that Šakiai first expanded from Šakaičai village. By 1719 a church in Šakiai was built. By the 19th century Šakiai already had city rights; it also had a school, Catholic and Lutheran churches, a synagogue, and a post office. During World War II the city was destroyed by the German army.

Šakiai
Town
Aerial view of Šakiai, featuring the town hall
Coat of arms
Šakiai
Location of Šakiai
Coordinates: 54°57′N 23°3′E
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionSuvalkija
County Marijampolė County
MunicipalityŠakiai district municipality
EldershipŠakiai eldership
Capital ofŠakiai district municipality
Šakiai eldership
First mentioned1599
Granted city rights1776
Government
 • MayorEdgaras Pilypaitis (LKDP)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total6,051
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

History

Šakiai is the birthplace of early Zionist philanthropist Isaac Leib Goldberg in 1860.[1]

Several massacres of Jewish people are alleged to have taken place in Šakiai in World War II, from July to September 1941. The killings are alleged to have committed by an Einsatzgruppen of German SS troops. The involvement of a small number of Lithuanians is also alleged.[2]

In 1921, Zygmunt Kęstowicz, a Polish actor, was born in the town.

  • Town hall of Šakiai
  • Church of John the Baptist
  • Šakiai Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Bust of Vincas Kudirka in Šakiai

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Lithuania

Twin towns — sister cities

Šakiai is twinned with:

References
  1. Slutsky, Yehuda. "Sakiai". Jewish Virtual Library. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
    Anne Blejer, Hatte (2013-03-04). "Yitzchak Leib Goldberg". Geni. MyHeritage. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  2. http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search/vcntfr=1000.vcntto=5000/page/4/item/211/


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