May 4, 1938, Teachers with students at a Jewish school in Sirvintos, Lithuania

During the 1930’s many Jews from Sirvintos immigrated to South Africa, the United States and Palestine. About 700 Jews remained in 1940. After the German invasion in June 1941, German soldiers burned the three synagogues of the community. Jews suspected of connections with the Soviet regime were sent to Ukmerge and killed. In August, all the Jews were forced to live in a ghetto. On September 18, all were killed in the Pivonija forest.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 183GO2