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This project seeks to collect all of the Jewish families from the town of Bohorodchany, Ukraine also known as Bogorodchany, Bohorodczany, Brodshin, Bradshin, Богородчани.
Background
Bohorodchany is an urban-type settlement in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, several miles from Ivano-Frankivsk. It is the administrative center of Bohorodchany Raion. Population: 7,872 (2013 est.).
It is located in Ukraine, although it has previously belonged to Poland and Austro-Hungary. The town was first mentioned in 1441 as a property of certain Jan of Buczacz, the starost of Trembowla. Later, in the 18th century the town's area acted as a base for a local band of outlaws led by Oleksa Dovbush, a semi-legendary Hutsul folk hero, who according to a local legend took the town by force in 1744. In 1786 the town had 314 permanent buildings and 1134 inhabitants.
Part of the Habsburg Empire
Following the Partitions of Poland the town became part of the Habsburg Empire and then Austria-Hungary. In the 19th century the town was a scene of intense social and economic activities by all three major groups of inhabitants - Jews, Ukrainians and Poles.
Already in 1770 a Polish language grammar school was established, followed by a Jewish Hertz Homberg school in 1785 and a state-sponsored German language grammar school in 1789. In 1848 a local branch of a Russka Rada (Ruthenian Council) was established by 29 local Ukrainians.
Around the same time numerous Jewish social and educational facilities were established, including a Hebrew School of the Union of Hebrew Teachers of Austria (1908-1914), a local branch of Ezrat Israel zionist union (1896), a Torat Haim yeshiva (1908) and a grammar school for girls (1909). By the end of the 19th century the town grew to 4597 inhabitants, including 2009 Jews, 1788 Greek Catholics and 800 Roman Catholics. The largest estates in the surrounding area belonged to Count Rudolf Stadion.
In the aftermath of World War I the town briefly belonged to ZUNR, but in 1919 was taken over by reborn Poland. The local life continued to flourish until World War II. The town was made a seat of a commune. In 1929 a Gmilut Hasadim welfare association was founded in the town.
Seized by the Soviet Union
Following the joint Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland, on September 19, 1939 the town was seized by the Soviet Union and soon afterwards attached to Ukrainian SSR. Since 1991 it is a part of Ukraine.
Bohorodchany is also known by its Yiddish name, Brotchin (בראטשין). A first-hand description of Jewish life in Bohorodchany pre-World War II can be found in the autobiography of Mark Hasten, who grew up there.
Years
- Till 1772 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Kingdom of Poland, Rus Voivodship (Województwo ruskie) Stanislawów starostwo; Kołomyia powiat (Powiat Kołomyjski)
- 1772-1867 Hapsburg Empire", since 1804 - Austrian Empire, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien) Stanislau Gebiet
- 1867-1914 Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien) Bohorodczany powiat (Herbivnyk, 130)
- 1914-1915 Under Russian occupation, General-Government Galitsiia
- 1915-1918 Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien) Bohorodczany powiat
- 1918 - May 1919 West-Ukrainian People's Republic
- May 1919 - Sept. 1939 Republic of Poland, Stanislawów wojewódstwo
- Till 1932 Bohorodczany powiat
- Since 1932 Stanislawów powiat
- Sept. 1939 - June 1941 USSR: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Stanislav oblast'
- Since 1940 Bogorodchany (Bohorodchany) raion
- June 1941 - July 1944 Under German occupation: General Government, (Das Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) Distrikt Galizien Stanislau Kreishaupt-mannschaft
- 1944-91 USSR: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Stanislavov (Stanislaviv) oblast';
- Since 1962 Renamed Ivano-Frankovsk (Ivano-Frankivs'k) oblast' Bogorodchany, Bohorodchany) raion
- Since 1991 Republic of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivs'k oblast', Bohorodchany raion