[2] In the interwar period, Hancewicze, as it was called in Polish, was administratively located in the Łuniniec County in the Polesie Voivodeship of Poland.

[citation needed] From June 30 to July 1, 1941, a pogrom occurred in which 16 Jews were murdered.

On August 15, 1941, 350 Jewish men were executed in the forest 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away from Hantsavichy.

During another action 1,000 Jewish men were taken to the forest one kilometre (0.62 mi) away and shot dead.

In all, during the occupation, 3,500 Jews were murdered by the Nazis in the district of Hantsavichy, including 1,500 women and 850 children.