Kapyl

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Town in Minsk Region, Belarus

title: "Kapyl" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["holocaust-locations-in-belarus", "kapyl", "rus'-towns", "slutsky-uyezd"] description: "Town in Minsk Region, Belarus" topic_path: "general/holocaust-locations-in-belarus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapyl" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in Minsk Region, Belarus ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
settlement_type	Town
name	Kapyl
native_name	be
ru
other_name	Kopyl
image_skyline	Complex of buildings on Lenin Square in Kapyl.jpg
imagesize	250px
image_flag	Flag of Kapyl.svg
image_shield	Coat of Arms of Kapyl, Belarus.svg
flag_size	150
shield_size	75
pushpin_map	Belarus
pushpin_map_caption	Location in Belarus
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Belarus
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name1	Minsk Region
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Kapyl District
established_title	First mentioned
established_date	1274
established_title2	Town rights
established_date2	1652
population_as_of	2025
population_total	9,887
population_footnotes
timezone	MSK
utc_offset	+3
coordinates
postal_code_type	Postal code
postal_code	223 910, 223 927
area_code	+375 1719
blank_name	License plate
blank_info	5
::

History

Kapyl, first mentioned in 1274, was a walled town that was noteworthy by the 14th century, and is listed in the atlas of Ortelius of 1574. During the 14th century the town was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1395 it came into the possession of Prince Vladimir Olgerdovich and his heirs, the Olelkovich family, where it remained until 1612. Kapyl was part of the dowry of Zofia Olelkowicz Słucka and was one of the seven fortified towns left to her husband Janusz Radziwill upon her death in 1612. Kapyl was attacked by the Tatars numerous times and was sacked on at least one occasion during the 16th century.

On August 27, 1652, King King John II Casimir Vasa granted Kapyl Magdeburg rights and its own seal, a coat of arms depicting a hunting horn on a gold field. John II Casimir also established local markets and annual horse and cattle fair. During the 16th century weaving became established in the town, including the production of velvet. Six guilds came into existence as a result of the growth of the weaving industry. The town rights were confirmed in 1658, 1665 and 1706. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Kapyl,_Słuckaja,_Śviatych_Piatra_i_Paŭła._Капыль,_Слуцкая,Сьвятых_Пятра_і_Паўла(1914).jpg" caption="Former Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul"] ::

After the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 Kapyl became part of the Russian Empire. From 1832 it became a personal holding of Prince Wittgenstein. During the 19th century local businesses included a brewery, 2 water mills, and 6 shops. Other local institutions included 3 schools, churches (including a Calvinist church), and 2 Jewish synagogues.

Towards the end of the 19th century Kapyl had over 350 houses and over 2000 inhabitants. At that time a majority of the town's population was Jewish. By 1900 the Jewish population was 2,671.

In 1924, Kapyl became the capital city of the Kapyl District.

During World War II the Slutsk-Kapyl area was the subject of a German military operation code-named Erntefest II (Harvest Festival) which ended in February 1943. Although ostensibly aimed at suppressing the activities of Soviet partisans in the area the operation resulted in the deaths of 2,325 of the local inhabitants (against the loss of six German soldiers), which can only be characterized as a campaign of genocide and terror.

One of Kapyl district's major architectural monuments is a 19th-century church in the town itself. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Капыльскі_раённы_краязнаўчы_музей,_цэнтральны_ўваход.jpg" caption="Local museum"] ::

Notable people

Abraham Jacob Paperna, educator and author
Mendele Mocher Sforim, author
Renald Knysh, gymnastics coach
Zmicier Zhylunovich, writer and political leader

Sister cities

LIT Joniškis, Lithuania

Notes

References

"Численность населения на 1 января 2025 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2024 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа".
link. (2012-02-27 Kopyl raion page at Minsk [[Oblispolkom]] website accessed 13 July 2010)
"Technical Problem Form".
[https://archive.today/20121204010244/http://www.kopyl.minsk-region.by/en/region/town/history Kopyl Region Executive Committee website retrieved 20 July 2010]
. (1883). ["Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich"](http://dir.icm.edu.pl/pl/Slownik_geograficzny/Tom_IV/386).
(October 25, 2010). "Major Antipartisan Operations in Belorussia - Reference & Links - Forschungsamt - RODOH Forum - Message Board".
"TrekLens | Learning about photography through our world".
"International Relations". joniskis.lt.

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