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Alternate names: Alytus [Lith], Olita [Pol, Rus], Alita [Yid], Alīta [Latv], Alytaus, Alitus, Alyta, Russian: Олита. אַליטע-Yiddish. 54°24' N, 24°03' E, 39 miles WSW of Trakai (Troki), 35 miles S of Kaunas (Kovno). In the Russian Empire, the town was divided (by the Neman river) between Vilna gubernia (Troki uyezd) and Suwałki gubernia (Kalwaria uyezd). 1900 Jewish population: 1,234. yizkor: Lite (vol. 1) (New York, 1951). ShtetLink. The synagogue is in terrible shape. The Jewish community cannot afford to fix the building; and the city does not know what to do with it. Since 1988 Alytus Ethnographic Museum occupies the old Jewish school. map. SYNAGOGUE: 9 Kauno str., built at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Town history and photos. Part of Trakai District, the town is divided into two parts by the Neman river. One part once belonged to Poland and the other to Lithuania or Russian Empire depending on the year. The town goes back to the Neolithic age and historically included land on the left bank of the Nemaunas, which runs roughly north/south in the area. Trakai uezd, Vilnius gubernia. town history. March 2009]CEMETERYL Smelio Str.
- Has small wall fragment and no gravestones
- Alytaus žydų kapinės (Smėlio g) - Alytus Jewish cemetery (Smėlio str.) [September 2010]
MASS GRAVE:
- Forest of Vidzgiris near Alytus: 74-77 pic.# 48-52. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. Go down Vidzgirio Street toward Pulko Street on the left. During WWII, under German occupation, Jews were shot in Vidzgiris forest and buried in mass graves. On March 18, 1993, a Holocaust memorial was unveiled with a symbolic "Star of David", 9 pyramids indicating the burial grounds, an obelisk, and a stela. In the highest hill of the memorial is a broken Mogen David. The architect is Rasa Vasiliauskienė and the broken Star of David sculptor, Aloyzas Smilingis. [March 2009]
- Mass murder site: "From the police station, go to the dead-end (at the pedestrian street). Turn right. Go straight about 1 km to the dead end. The site has multiple memorials, both Jewish and Lithuanian. Also about ten large white pyramids [photo] are scattered in the woods probably covering the former killing pits. One of the signs in Lithuanian says, 'Be still. For the ground you walk on is filled with blood.' " Source [October 2000] 279 Jews were murdered here at the beginning of WW II.[March 2009]
UPDATE:New online book documents Jewish cemetery in Alytus. All epitaphs photographed & translated