IRENA (DĘBLIN-IRENA)

Pre-1939: Irena (Yiddish: Modzhitz), town, Puławy powiat, Lublin województwo, Poland; 1939–1944: initially Kreis Garwolin, Disrikt Warschau, then Kreis Pulawy, Distrikt Lublin, Generalgouvernement; post-1998: Dęblin, Puławy powiat, Lublin województwo, Poland Irena was located 68.7 kilometers (42.7 miles) northwest of Lublin. In 1953, it was incorporated into neighboring Dęblin. The two settlements popularly were long considered one, partly because Irena was established for civilians to provide services to the military stationed in Dęblin. In 1927, Dęblin-Irena’s civilian population of 4,860 included 3,060 Jews. Luftwaffe bombardment, from September 2 to 7, 1939, forced civilians to flee before the Wehrmacht occupied Irena on September 12. Ordered by regional military authorities to return, the Jews discovered their residences and businesses plundered. Military authorities fined the Jews 20,000 złoty and mandated forced labor, initially clearing devastation and reconstructing the air...