Bitoljski Jevreji u Narodnooslobodilačkoj borbi

Abstract

U Bitolju je nekada živela brojno velika i ekonomski dosta jaka jevrejska zajednica. Bilo je to pre Balkanskih ratova, kada je Bitolj (Monastir) predstavljao važan trgovački centar sa razvijenim privrednim životom. Posle ratova grad je postao samo malo trgovačko mesto a mnoge egzistencije su propale. Došlo je do velike emigracije, a većina onih koji su ostali u Bitolju su osiromašili. 11 marta 1943. godine preko tri hiljade Jevreja, skoro cela jevrejska populacija, je pohapšeno i odvedeno u nacističke logore. Oni koji su otišli u partizane hrabro su se borili a neki od njih postali su i narodni heroji.

A number of large and economically strong Jewish communities once lived in Bitola. It was before the Balkan Wars when Bitola (Monastir) was an important trading center with a developed economic life. After the wars, the town was only a small trading post and many livelihoods failed. There was a great emigration, and most of those who remained in Bitola were impoverished. On March 11, 1943, over three thousand Jews, almost the entire Jewish population, were captured and taken to Nazi camps. Those who went to the partisans fought bravely and some of them became national heroes.