and comprised more than 40% of the population in cities and towns. The population of cities such as Minsk, Pinsk, Mahiliou, Babrujsk, Viciebsk, and Homiel was more than 50% Jewish. In 1939 there were 375,000 Jews in Belarus, or 13.6% of the total population.[3] Some 246,000 Jews of 375,000-66% of the