Lazdijai (pronunciationⓘ) is a city (miestas) in Lithuania located about seven kilometres (4+1⁄2 mi) east of the border with Poland.

[4] During World War II, Lazdijai was under German occupation from 22 June 1941 until 31 July 1944.

[5] On November 3, 1941, 1,535 Jews were murdered in Lazdijai, including 485 men, 511 women and 539 children[6] The perpetrators were members of the Rollkommando Hamann, local policemen and Lithuanian nationalists.

Lazdijai gets its name from the river Lazdija (also known as Raišupis), which runs through the city.

[7] Throughout the history the city belonged to various powers and accordingly was known under various names: Polish: Łoździeje, German: Lasdien, Russian: Лаздияй, romanized: Lazdiyay.