Permanent Jewish settlement in Zhuravno (Polish: Żurawno, currently an urban-type settlement in western Ukraine, Lviv Oblast, Zhydachiv Raion) began in the 18th century. The majority of the Jews were leaseholders, distillers, petty traders and craftsmen[1.1]. In 1890 the city had 1,681 Jewish inhabitants, who accounted for about 62% of the residents (2,716). However, after World War I their number dropped dramatically, reaching 865 in 1921. The Jews took advantage of different kinds of assistance[1.1.1]. In later years, the Jewish population recorded an increase and reached about 1,300 in 1939.

After 17 September 1939, Zhuravno was under Soviet occupation. After the city was captured by German troops on 3 July 1941 it came under the authority of the Third Reich: first under military occupation, and from 1 August 1941 under civilian administration. It was incorporated into Kreis Stryj. A German military police station and a branch of Ukrainian police were established in the city.

In the summer of 1941, the Germans ordered that a Jewish Council (Judenrat) be created in Zhuravno. Another institution established was the Jewish police, an auxiliary body of the Judenrat, whose tasks included the registration and identification of all Jews in the city. In late July the Jews were ordered to wear white armbands with a blue Star of David. Later, at the end of August, they were ordered to pay a contribution in the amount of 100,000 zlotys. They were not allowed to buy food on the market or travel outside the city limits. Jewish schools were closed down.

The Judenrat established a labour office, which assigned Jews to perform different tasks. In the summer of 1941, many of them were sent to work regulating the nearby rivers to protect the area from flooding.

In the winter of 1941/1942 the Jews were forced to hand over their fur coats and other warm clothing to the German army. Many of them, approx. 150 at least, died of hunger, cold and disease.

Before the summer of 1942, a special kitchen was established in Zhuravno to provide Jewish workers with hot meals. There were also plans to set up a branch of Jewish Social Self-Help in the town.

On 10 June 1942, 1,151 Jews lived in Zhuravno, 403 of whom were forced to perform many kinds of labour, primarily road building and in quarries. In mid-June 1942 the Ukrainian auxiliary police gathered 50 Jews and transported them to the labour office in Khodoriv, where the living conditions were very difficult. 15 other Jews were arrested by the Jewish police, who extorted money from them and threatened them with deportation. The reason for their arrest was that the Judenrat urgently needed money for a bribe or another contribution for the Germans.

On 4 and 5 September 1942 a large-scale extermination action was carried out, which resulted in about 500 Jews being deported to the extermination camp in Bełżec. Jews from Stryi, Khodoriv and nearby villages were deported at the same time.

On 29 September 1942, the majority of Jews remaining in Zhuravno were resettled to the Stryi ghetto. More deportations took place there in October and November 1942. Most of the Jews from Zhuravno were transported to the extermination camp in Bełżec.

There is limited data about the Restgetto in Zhuravno. According to the few witness reports, in late September 1942, all Jews still alive were brought into a small ghetto established in Zhuravno[1.2].

Bibliography:

• The Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945, Goeffrey P. Megargee (ed.), vol. II A, pp. 746, 770, 853–854.
• The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, S. Spector, G. Wigoder (eds.), vol. 3, New York (2001), p. 1520.
• Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, F. Sulimierski, B. Chlebowski, W. Walewski (eds.), vol. 14, Warszawa, p. 864.