History

The first records of Jews living in Łosice date back to the second half of the 17th century. Their settlement, patronised by starosts, was probably connected with the attempts to revive the town after disasters brought about during the Chmielnicki Uprising, The Swedish Invasion and other historical calamities. It was a craft and trade community, which also produced and sold alcoholic beverages.

In the 19th century, Łosice was a provincial centre, far away from the revitalising railway lines, developing slowly mainly thanks to the large-scale cultivation of cucumbers. In 1862, there were 838 Jews (47.7%) out of a total population of 1,755; only 6 out of 199 houses were of brick construction. In 1884, there were already 2,610 inhabitants in 208 houses; there was a synagogue.

In the interwar period, Łosice was still outside the mainstream, although its population was already slightly higher - around 3,900 in 1928. It was part of Konstantynów district, then Siedlce district. Jews played a leading role in the local economic life. There were two banks: Kupiecki (English: Traders') and Ludowy (English: Peoples'), Sz. Hochman's hotel “Krakowski” and Aron Hajdenwurcla's doctor's office.

Among the most important merchants were: Jankiel Cygelsztejn (grain), Nuchim Goldman (alcohol), Moszko Perelmuter (potatoes), Lejbko Zemel (grain). There was also an expeditor, Binem Wajman, who transported goods to the station in Niemojki. The Jews ran 5 bakeries, 4 mills, 3 oil mills, and a soap factory. Among the services worth mentioning are 8 beer houses, 5 tea houses, two barber shops, two restaurants and a café. Of course, they also had many commercial establishments, much more numerous than today, including: 34 grocery shops (out of 39 in Łosice), 12 begat shops, 12 haberdashery shops, 2 colonial shops, a liquor shop and the only tobacco shop in town. There were also several grain merchants and leather traders. The representatives of craftsmen comprised 16 butchers, 8 shoemakers, 8 tailors, 5 hat makers, 3 blacksmiths, a locksmith and a saddler. As far as social institutions are concerned, it is worth mentioning the Jewish hospital at Drohicka Street (Polish: ul. Drohicka) (today at 10 Kościuszki Street (Polish: ul. Kościuszki)). In 1939, Łosice had 5,730 inhabitants, of which 48% were Jews.

Under the German occupation during World War II, the town centre was destroyed to a large extent. The synagogue was bombed, the cemetery was destroyed, and the Jewish population was confined to the ghetto. On 22 August 1942, the Germans shot all the patients in the Jewish hospital. This was the signal for the liquidation of the closed quarter. The Germans expelled the Jews from their homes and herded them to the market square. They robbed the people there of their valuables and then formed a convoy which they drove back to Siedlce. What remained were unsecured flats and shops, and a market square - full of corpses, orphaned mufflers and abandoned religious books. Over the next two trains transported the Jews of Siedlce to the German Nazi death camp of Treblinka.

As there were still Jews in the area, the Germans created a “small ghetto” in one of the tenement houses, where they imprisoned up to 40 people. These victims were taken to Treblinka in the autumn of 1942.