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Vysokoye is about 35 km (21 mi) north-west of Brest
Map: Based on inter-war Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny 300K scale maps,
courtesy of mapywig.org |
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A small portion of a 1:100k scale 1930's Polish military map,
courtesy of mapywig.org |
The Yiddish name for this town is Visoka Litovsk. The Polish designation, Wysokie Litewskie, is often used to reference the pre-war town. For genealogical purposes, the modern name in Russian, Vysokoye, is usually applied.
More about the name
The names Visoka Litovsk and Wysokie Litewskie both translate as Lithuanian Highland. This use of Lithuania refers not to the modern nation of that name, rather, to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (often abbreviated GDL) which encompassed the entire region in the 14th century. Highland might also be rendered as Heights.
Just as the word Heights occurs in many town names in the U.S., variations on Visoka/Wysokie occurs in many places in Eastern Europe. However, none of these occur in the area of Brest (City). The Polish city Wysokie Mazowieckie occurs most often in Internet searches; it is north of Warsaw, well away from Brest, and has nothing to do with Wysokie Litewskie.
Other variants are known: Hyssoke, Litowan, Litowsvan, Vishuker, Visoke Dlita, Visoko Sitoromos, Visoky Litovsk, Vosokie Litew, Vysokaje, Vysoke DeLita, Vysoke Litevske, Vysoko Litevks, Vysoko Litovsk, Vysokoe, Vysokoye, Wishko, Wisoke Litovsk, Wisoki, Wisoki Dalita, Wisokie Litofsk, Wisokie Litovsk, Wisoko Litowsk, Wissokie, Wysoke Litewski, Wysoki Litewskie, Wysokie Litewskie, Wysokie Litowski, Wysoky.
More about the geography
Vysokoye is part of the Kamenets District, Brest Region, of the Republic of Belarus
The Pulva River flows through the town. The Pulva -- which is now reduced by flood control projects to what would be known in the U.S. as a creek-- flows into the Bug River.
The railway station for the town is located about 5km (3 miles) north. On the inter-war Polish map, it is designated St. Wysokie Litewskie.
Website about Vysokoye: My Town (in Russian)
Yizkor Book
A 1948 event program titled Entertainment and Ball Given by the United Wisoko-Litowsker and Woltchiner Relief is subtitled Yizkor. As a result this publication has become known as the Yizkor Book for Wysokie -- and for Woltchin, also known as Volchin. The publication contains disappointingly little documentary information about either town. Only a few copies are known to exist. An English translation may be viewed here.
Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities -- Poland -- Volume V -- Volhynia and Polesie
Pinkas hakehillot Polin: entsiklopedyah shel ha-yishuvim ha-Yehudiyim le-min hivasdam ve-`ad le-ahar Sho'at Milhemet ha-`olam ha-sheniyah.) 1990 Jerusalem, Yad Vashem.
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