The Jewish community of Dubossar and surrounding areas had existed for about 300 years, during which time a vibrant Jewish culture developed. Jews were artisans, merchants in grain, wine and fruit; they also grew tobacco. In 1897, there were 5,220 Jews in Dubossary, 43% of the total population. At the beginning of the 20th century, the community operated a Talmud Torah, nine chederim, and four private schools. During the civil war in Russia of 1918-20, Jewish self-defense was organized and the community remained relatively free from the pogroms. There were 3,630 Jews in Dubossary in 1926 (81% of the total population), dropping to 2,198 (52% of the total population) in 1939. From June 22 1941, when the German and Romanian armies started the war against the Soviet Union, only a small number of Jews from Dubossary were conscripted to the Soviet Army or evacuated to the East, and in the mid-July 1941 town of Dubossary was occupied by German and Romanian troops. Between September 12 and 28, 1941, 25 SS men from Einsatzgruppe 12 D with help of Romanian troops and others murdered 4,500 Jewish men, women and children. The execution was conducted publically; all local population was gathered to see it. Local administration and local police participated in the execution. After the liberation of Dubossary on August 14, 1944, the Soviet Commission for Investigation of Nazi Crimes found that about 18,000 Jewish victims were buried in the mass graves near the town. Approximately 100 to 150 survivors returned after the war. The original memorial book was published in Hebrew and Yiddish in 1965 to preserve the memory of this vibrant Jewish community. English readers who are descendants of the town and researchers now have access to this primary source material. Alternate names: Dubasari Romanian, Moldovan], Dubossary Russian, Ukrainian, Dubasar) Yiddish], Dubosary Polish], Dobyasser, Dubosari, Dubosar, Dubassar Nearby Jewish Communities: Criuleni 4 miles SSW NE, Mascautti 8 miles W, Grigoriopol 10 miles SE, Corjova 12 miles S, Ivancea 15 miles W, Orhei 18 miles WNW, Petrovca 20 miles SSW, Krasni Okny, Ukraine 23 miles NE, Chisinau 24 miles SW, Vorotett 25 miles NW, Straseni 27 miles WSW, Frunzivka, Ukraine 28 miles E, Discova 28 miles WNW, Puttintei 28 miles WNW, Ofatintti 29 miles NNW