Širvintos (pronunciationⓘ, German: Schirwindt) is a town in Vilnius County in the eastern part of Lithuania. It is the administrative center of the Širvintos district municipality.[1]

The word Širvintos is the plural form of the name of the Širvinta River, which flows through the town.

Its alternate names include Shirvintay, Shirvintos, Širvintai, Širvintar, and Szyrwinty (Polish).[1]

History

Before World War II, the town had an important Jewish community representing one-third of the total population.[2] In September 1941, Jews of the town are murdered in mass executions perpetrated by Germans and Lithuanian collaborators.[3]

Since 2010, the city started expanding and renovated the city center which improved its image and popularity.

References

  1. ^ a b United States Board on Geographic Names – Lithuania – Širvintos. Accessed January 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Preserving Our Litvak Heritage, Volume II (Pages 166-177)". jewishgen.org. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "המכון הבין-לאומי לחקר השואה - יד ושם". yadvashem.org. Retrieved July 15, 2017.