The first reference to Jews in Tłumacz dates back to the 16^th century. This very early community was destroyed during the wars of the 17^th century. A new settlement appeared in the 18^th century[1.1].

The Jewish presence in the town increased under the Austrian partition. Despite the very high taxes, Jews managed to achieve a dominant position in trade and craft. In 1880, 1,795 Jews inhabited Tłumacz, comprising 48.8% of the total number of residents. Construction of a branch railway line, running from the main Stanisławów-Tarnopol line, greatly contributed to an increased development of the local economy. Jews began purchasing local agricultural products and shipped them to the main towns of Galicia. Other sources of their income were markets and craft – at least 200 young women were occupied with cottage industries such as knitting and embroidery[1.2].

World War I turned out to be a very difficult time for the Jews. The town was partly destroyed due to battles between the Austrians and the Russians. Particularly damaging were the raids by Russian Cossacks, who first plundered and then destroyed the ravaged households on a massive scale[1.1.2].

The Jewish community in Tłumacz also grew during the interwar period, despite constantly high emigration rate. Due to the growing Polish and Ukrainian competition, business relations were not favourable for the Jews at that time. They were leaving the town also due to the Zionists groups' activity, which dominated the local political scene[1.1.2]. In 1939, 2,350 Jews lived in Tłumacz, constituting 40% of the total number of residents.

In September 1939, Tłumacz came under Soviet occupation. As a result of an influx of refugees, the number of Jews grew to approximately 2,800 inl 1941.

Following the outbreak of the Soviet-German war, Tłumacz was invaded by Hungarian forces on 7th July 1941. The Hungarian occupation lasted until September. The Hungarians ordered the Jews to form a Judenrat (Jewish council) and implemented the obligation for Jews to wear bands bearing the Star of David. They also resettled a group of Hungarian Jews to Tłumacz. On the other hand, the Hungarian authorities thwarted a pogrom attempted by Ukrainian nationalists.

In September 1941, German civil occupation authorities took over control in the town. German criminal police and gendarmerie posts, as well as the headquarters of the auxiliary Ukrainian police, were located in the city. Under German occupation, the situation of Jews immediately deteriorated - they were directed to forced labour and most of their property was confiscated. The security police unit from Stanisławowo led anti-Jewish operations. Between the 5^th and 6^th of April 1942, approximately 1,000 Jews were resettled from Tłumacz to Stanisławowo. Then resettlement of Jews from nearby villages to Tłumacz followed. Because of that, the number of Jews in the town grew to approximately 3,500. In May 1942, 160 Jews were shot (according to other sources 198), and in June – another 78 individuals. Another massive execution took place on the Jewish cemetery on 4^th of June 1942. The officials who came from Stanisławowo and local German police officers shot 497 Jews, 15 Poles and 4 Ukrainians. The next mass executions at this place followed in September (83 individuals) and November (58 individuals) 1942 [refr:| Online Guide of Murder Sites of Jews in the Former USSR, Yad Vashem [online] http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/about/institute/killing_sites_catalog_details_full.asp?region=Stanislawow [access 17.09.2015].]].

The remaining Jews were confined in a ghetto. Harsh conditions, famine and diseases led to the death of another 280 people. On the 27^th November 1942, the ghetto was liquidated. Approximately 2,000 Jews were transported to the Nazi German death camp in Bełżec.

Bibliography

• Ł. M. Sołowka, A. I. Krugłow, Tłumacz, [in:] Hołokost na territorii SSSR, I. A. Altman (ed.), Moskwa (2009), pp. 981–982.
• Tlumacz, [in:] The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, vol. 3, Sh. Spector, G. Wigoder (eds.), New York (2001), p. 1310.
• Tlumach, JewishGen KehilaLinks [online] https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org:443/tlumach/tlumach.html [accessed: 17.09.2015].