Dukhovshchina (Russian: Духовщина) is a town and the administrative center of Dukhovshchinsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vostitsa River 57 kilometers (35 mi) northeast of Smolensk, the administrative center of the oblast.

Dukhovshchina developed on the spot of the Dukhov Monastery, established at some point in the 15th century.

[citation needed] It was captured by Napoleon's Grande Armée during the 1812 Battle of Smolensk and was occupied during World War II by the Wehrmacht from July 15, 1941 to September 19, 1943.

The Jews were forced to work after the German invasion.

During this time, 300 Jews perished in mass executions perpetrated by an Einsatzgruppen.