Simonas Bastackis

Simonas Bastackis (1910–?) was born in Vilnius to Dveira and Judelis Bastockis. After graduating from elementary school, he entered the Jewish Gymnasium of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and graduated from it in 1927. In 1929, after failing (his gymnasium diploma was not recognised) to enter Stefan Batory University (the exact date of application is unknown), Bastackis went to study at the Polytechnic Institute in France. However, he had to discontinue his studies there because he was recruited to serve in the Polish army. In 1933, Bastackis passed his matura examinations and once again applied for studies (this time successfully) at the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Stefan Batory University. However, three years later, he had to stop his university studies due to the unfavourable policy of the university towards Jews. On 14 September 1940, Bastackis applied to resume his studies at Vilnius University. His application contains two entries: “28 September 1940, not to be admitted” and “Admitted as a student on 15 October 1940”. Bastackis’ admission and studies are also evidenced by the student’s record of 7 December 1940, stating that he completed studies in several university subjects. Bastackis was mentioned in the announcement on the students being expelled from Vilnius University, but there was no separate document in the student’s file on his expulsion from the university as of 19 September 1941 on the basis of the Order of 17 September 1941 of the Department of Higher Education of the Board of Education. According to the Yad Vashem database of the Holocaust victims, Bastackis was killed during the Holocaust. Before he perished, he was imprisoned in the Kloga concentration camp (Estonia), where he worked as a baker.

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