Barbarossa and placed under the administration of the Generalbezirk Weißruthenien of Reichskommissariat Ostland. Over 15,000 civilians massacred including 6,972 Polish Jews. See also: Belarusian Home Defence (BKA) pacification actions 1941, July 12 and 30 – German SS forces murder the remaining Jewish citizens in Vileyka (over 500 people). 1944, July 2 – Vileyka recaptured by troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front of the Red Army during the Minsk Offensive. 1944 – the center of the Vileyka Raion formed 1954 – furniture plant started 1959 – repair plant opened 1973 – "Zenit-BelOMO" optical plant started 1973 – Vileyka reservoir started 1998 – Vileyka hydropower station started Geography The modern city is located on the right bank of the river Viliya, in the northwest part of the Minsk region, 100 kilometers from Minsk. The town's population numbers 30,000 people. There is a railway station of the Molodechno-Polotsk line in the city. The roads to Maladzechna, Smarhoń, Myadzel, Dokshytsy, Pleshchanitsy run through the city. The town's industry is represented by the Zenit plant, wood processing enterprises (including a furniture factory), a motor repair plant, building materials plants, light and food enterprises. Vileyka also houses the Museum of Regional Studies. The territory of the Vileyka district is . Forests account for 41% of the territory. The main part of the district is situated within the borders of Narach-Vileyka lowland. In the year 1974, near the town of Vileyka Belarus's largest artificial reservoir was built — Vileyka Reservoir with a total area of and a volume of . Demography International relations Twin towns — Sister cities Vileyka is twinned with: Mozhaysk, Russia Pereiaslav, Ukraine Willmar, Minnesota, United States References External links Official site of Vileyka Regional Executive Committee Pictures of nearby Russian Navy long-haul communications center Photos of Vilejka at Radzima.org Foto,Forum,Articles – Vilejka.be.together! Unofficial reference and information site of Vileyka Holocaust locations in Belarus Mass murder in 1941 Massacres committed by the Soviet Union Populated places in Minsk Region Soviet World War II crimes Towns in Belarus Vileyka District Vileysky Uyezd Vilnius Voivodeship Wilno Voivodeship (1926–1939)