Molchad

This article is about the village. For the river, see Molchad (river).

Molchad or Mowchadz (Belarusian: Моўчадзь, romanized: Moŭčadź; Russian: Молчадь; Polish: Mołczadź; Yiddish: מייטשעט, romanized: Meytshet) is a village in Baranavichy District, Brest Region, Belarus. It is situated on the Molchad River and 33 kilometres (21 mi) north-west from Baranavichy. In 2005, the population of Molchad was 950 and included 330 households.

Molchad Моўчадзь (Belarusian)
Village
A street in 2010
Flag Coat of arms
Molchad Location in Belarus
Coordinates: 53°18.44′N 25°42.02′E
Country	Belarus
Region	Brest Region
District	Baranavichy District
First mentioned	1486
Elevation	193 m (633 ft)
Population  (2005)
• Total	950
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK)
Postal code	225340
Area code	375 163
Vehicle registration	1

History

The village of Molchad has appeared in written sources as early as 1486 with the founding of the local Holy Trinity Church, which no longer stands,^[1] listed as part of the Slonim povet of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.^[1] During the Russo-Polish War in 1654 the village was razed by Russian invaders but later rebuilt.

Under the Russian Empire

As a result of the third partition of Poland in 1795 Molchad became part of the Russian Empire. In 1879, the village suffered a large fire which destroyed most of its buildings. In 1880, the St. Peter and Paul Church was completed.^[1] In 1884 a railway was built through the village connecting it to the nearby city of Brest. In 1886 Molchad was reported to have 2 churches, 3 synagogues, a brewery, a railway station, a school and a bazaar.^[1]

20th century

In 1921, the Peace of Riga transferred Molchad to Poland. Following the Invasion of Poland in 1939, Molchad was incorporated into the Byelorussian SSR. Between June 1941 and July 1944, Molchad was occupied by Nazi Germany and a ghetto was established there. From June through August 1942, 3,600 Jews from Molchad and the surrounding area were massacred by the native Polish population with the support of German troops. Many Jews were buried alive.^[2][3]

Demographics

Population

• In 1830, the population was 363 people: 183 were Jewish, 169 were middle class Christians and farmers, 6 were gentry, 2 clergy and 3 poor.
• In 1865, the population was 737.
• In 1886, the population was 479.^[1]
• In 1921, the population was 1483.
• In 1998, the population was 882.

Gallery

• 
  An old Jewish tavern
• 
  At the back of the tavern, one can find HAPPINESS
• 
  The train station, on the Baranavichy-Lida railway.

References

1. National Academy of Sciences of Belarus 2013 Tourist Mosaic of Belarus page 65
2. "Yahad - in Unum".
3. Jewish Heritage Research Group in Belarus

External links

• Molchadz (Maytchet), In Memory of the Jewish Community (Molchad, Belarus)