Dzyarzhynsk Dzerzhinsk | |
|---|---|
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 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Dzyarzhynsk Location of Dzyarzhynsk in Belarus | |
| Coordinates:53°41′00″N27°08′00″E / 53.68333°N 27.13333°E /53.68333; 27.13333 | |
| Country | Belarus |
| Region | Minsk Region |
| District | Dzyarzhynsk District |
| Founded | 1146 |
| Population (2025)[1] | |
• Total | 29,630 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK) |
| Postal code | 222720 |
| Area code | +375 1716 |
| License plate | 5 |
| Website | Official website |
Dzyarzhynsk, orDzerzhinsk,[a] formerly known asKoydanava until 1932,[b][2] is a town inMinsk Region,Belarus. It serves as the administrative center ofDzyarzhynsk District.[1] As of 2025, it has a population of 29,630.[1]
In theMiddle Ages, the village belonged to theRadziwiłłs, aPolish–Lithuanian aristocratic family.
Jews lived in Koidanova as early as 1620.[3] Koidanova became the site of a newHasidicJewishdynasty in 1833 when Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Perlow (1797–1862) became the firstKoidanoverRebbe.[4] He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Boruch Mordechai Perlow (1818–1870), grandson, RabbiAharon Perlow (1839–1897), and great-grandson, Rabbi Yosef Perlow of Koidanov-Minsk (1854-1915), who was the last Koidanover Rebbe to live in the town. After World War I, the dynasty was moved toBaranovichi, then inPoland.[5]
In 1847, Koidanova had 2,497 Jewish inhabitants.[3] In 1897, the city had a total population of 4,744, of whom 3,156 were Jews.[6]
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In May 1932, it was granted the status of a city and was renamedKoidanau (Belarusian:Ко́йданаў,romanized: Kojdanaŭ) orKoydanov (Russian:Ко́йданов,romanized: Koydanov). In June of that year it was renamed again as Dziaržynsk by theCommunist authorities, in honour ofFelix Dzerzhinsky (1877–1926), a famous Bolshevik creator and chief of the "Extraordinary Commission" (CHEKA) – the Soviet secret police - who was born in a Dziaržynava estate not far from the city, although on the other side of the then Polish-Soviet border.[3]
The city was the capital of the short-livedDzierzynszczyznaPolish Autonomous District during 1932–38.[3]
It fell underGerman occupation during World War II. It was captured on 28 June 1941.
TheLithuanian TwelfthSchutzmannschaft (auxiliary police) Battalion's 1st Company, led by Lieutenant Z. Kemzura, massacred approximately 1,600 Jews from the city on 21 October 1941, shooting them and throwing them into a pit; many were buried alive.[7][8][9] As it is reported inThe Complete Black Book of Russian Jewry: "For three hours the earth covering the mass grave would move; people still alive were trying to crawl out of their grave."[9] On 1–2 March 1942 theEinsatzgruppen transported several thousand Jews from throughout Belarus and murdered them in Koidanov.[10] The city was liberated by the SovietRed Army on 6 July 1944.[3]
In 1998, the city had 24,700 inhabitants.[11]
Now part of Belarus, the name Kojdanava (Belarusian:Койданава) is becoming popular again (it is the official name for therailway station of Dzyarzhynsk), but the official name remains unchanged.[citation needed]
The highest point of Belarus,Dzyarzhynskaya Hara, is several kilometers from Dzyarzhynsk.
There is a rail route across the city fromMinsk Passazhirsky to Baranovichi Polesskie.
There is only one bus route in Dziarzhynsk; there are 18 stops.[citation needed]
The local football club is theArsenal Dzerzhinsk, playing in theBelarusian First League. Its home ground is theCity Stadium.
Media related toDzyarzhynsk at Wikimedia Commons| Districts (raiony) |  | |
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1 Administrative center of Minsk Region but administratively separated | ||
