Editing The Holocaust (section)

== Chabad Chassidim in the Holocaust ==
Many Chabad chassidim in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia perished in the Holocaust, in ghettos, death camps, and killing valleys.

Poland - The largest Chabad community before the Holocaust was in Warsaw and Otwock. Small communities and yeshivas existed in several Polish cities like Lodz. The majority of chassidim and Tmimim were murdered. However, dozens of students from Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas in Poland managed to escape to Lithuania and from there to Shanghai, China. They remained there during the Holocaust.

Lithuania - In Vilna and other cities, there were Chabad communities and yeshivas before the Holocaust. Most of Anash and Tmimim were murdered in the Holocaust.

Latvia - In Riga there was a large community with Chabad synagogues. There were other communities throughout Latvia. Chassidim and Tmimim were murdered with few survivors.

Soviet Union - Many Chabad chassidim lived for several generations in the cities and towns of Greater Russia-Soviet Union, and large and small communities developed throughout the country, mostly in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

In summer 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union and many Jews, including Chabad chassidim, fled from the front areas. Many of the refugees settled in Tashkent and Samarkand in Uzbekistan and thus survived the Holocaust.

Russia - The central Chabad communities in Moscow and Leningrad suffered heavy bombardment and many Chabad chassidim perished in the war events.

Ukraine - The Nazis conquered an important part of Ukraine, and many Chabad chassidim were murdered.

In summary: Most Soviet Jews and thus most Chabad chassidim remained in Nazi-occupied areas and were murdered during the Holocaust. HY"D.