According to Belarusian toponymist Vadzim Žučkievič name "Hantsavichy" comes from surname Hantsavich.

[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 km away from Hantsavichy.

During another action 1,000 Jewish men were taken to the forest 1 km 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.