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Lazdijai

Coordinates: 54°14′N 23°31′E / 54.233°N 23.517°E / 54.233; 23.517
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lazdijai
City
Vilnius Street in Lazdijai
Vilnius Street in Lazdijai
Flag of Lazdijai
Coat of arms of Lazdijai
Lazdijai is located in Lithuania
Lazdijai
Lazdijai
Location of Lazdijai
Coordinates: 54°14′N 23°31′E / 54.233°N 23.517°E / 54.233; 23.517
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionDzūkija
County Alytus County
MunicipalityLazdijai district municipality
EldershipLazdijai city eldership
Capital ofLazdijai district municipality
Lazdijai city eldership
Lazdijai rural eldership
First mentioned1570
Granted city rights1597
Government
 • TypeDistrict Municipality Council
 • BodyLazdijai District Municipality Council
 • MayorAusma Miškinienė (DSVL)
Area
 • Total5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,110[1]
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Lazdijai (pronunciation) is a city (miestas) in Lithuania located about seven kilometres (4+12 mi) east of the border with Poland.[2][3]

History

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It was established by Sigismund II Augustus in 1570 and granted Magdeburg Rights by Sigismund III Vasa in 1587.[4] During World War II, Lazdijai was under German occupation from 22 June 1941 until 31 July 1944.[5] On November 3, 1941, 1,535 Jews were murdered in Lazdijai, including 485 men, 511 women and 539 children[6] The perpetrators were members of the Rollkommando Hamann, local policemen and Lithuanian nationalists.

In 1990 Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union, and new check points between the borders Poland and Lithuania were established, and Lazdijai became the center that oversees and continues to regulate these operations.

Etymology

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Lazdijai gets its name from the river Lazdija (also known as Raišupis), which runs through the city. It is, however, unclear where the name for the river comes. One possibility is that the name Raišupis is likely of Sudovian origin, having a meaning related to nuts, while the lithuanian word for hazels is lazdynai, possibly birthing the river's alternative name lazdija and the city name Lazdijai.[7]

Throughout the history the city belonged to various powers and accordingly was known under various names: Polish: Łoździeje, German: Lasdien, Russian: Лаздияй, romanizedLazdiyay. Also, the Jewish population of the city called it Lazdei (Yiddish: לאַזדיי, לאַזדיי). See also Names of Lithuanian places in other languages.

Notable people

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Birthplace

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.lazdijai.lt/savivaldybe/apie-savivaldybe/gyventojai/77 [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Istorija ir Kultūros paveldas". lazdijai.lt. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Lazdijai". vle.lt. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  4. ^ Encyclopedyja Powszechna (Universal Encyclopedia). Vol. 17 (in Polish). Warszawa: S. Orgelbrand. 1864. p. 655.
  5. ^ Освобождение городов
  6. ^ "Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania". holocaustatlas.lt. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  7. ^ Vanagas, Aleksandras (2004). Lietuvos miestų vardai (2nd ed.). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. pp. 121–123.
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