This is an English translation of the Olshan Yizkor (Memorial) Book originally published in Israel in 1965. It was written by the survivors and their families who had lived in the shtetl of Olshan, which was overrun and destroyed by the Nazi invasion in 1940.

The Jewish community of Olshan, now part of Belarus, had survived multiple changes over its centuries of existence. These are described in vivid historic and personal detail, culminating in the grisly events of the Holocaust.

No Jews remain in the town, and this book is a humble memorial and tribute to their memory, and to the heart-wrenching experiences of one of the blackest periods of human history.

Gol'shany, Belarus is located at 54°15' North Latitude and 26°01' East Longitude

Alternate names for the town are: Hal'shany [Belarussian], Gol'shany [Russian], Olshan [Yiddish], Holszany [Polish], Alšėnai [Lithuanian], Halšany, Holshan, Holshani, Olshani, Olszany

Nearby Jewish Communities:

• Traby 8 miles SSW
  
• Krevo 12 miles ENE
  
• Vishneva 12 miles SE
  
• Ashmyany 12 miles NNW
  
• Zhuprany 15 miles N
  
• Dieveniškės, Lithuania 17 miles WSW
  
• Soly 20 miles NNE
  
• Smarhon 22 miles NE
  
• Bakshty 23 miles SSE
  
• Lipnishki 24 miles SW
  
• Valozhyn 24 miles ESE
  
• Iwye 24 miles SSW
  
• Laibiškės, Lithuania 25 miles NW
  
• Astravyets 25 miles N
  
• Šalčininkai, Lithuania 26 miles W
  
• Byenyakoni 26 miles W
  
• Zaskevichi 26 miles ENE
  
• Liebiedzieva 28 miles E
  
• Voranava 28 miles WSW