Have you ever stood on ground that whispers tales of resilience? This is the Jüdischer Friedhof I. It stands in Brandenburg an der Havel. It is more than just a cemetery. It is a poignant reminder of a community’s enduring spirit.
The Jüdischer Friedhof I in der Geschwister-Scholl-Straße marks the spot of the former Jewish cemetery. This hallowed ground also serves as a Holocaust memorial. It stands as a designated historical monument. It is one of two Jewish cemeteries used in the city during the 20th century.
Let’s step back in time. A Jewish cemetery existed here from at least the 14th century. It lay southeast of Neustadt Brandenburg. However after the expulsion of Jews from Mark Brandenburg in 1571, communal life ceased. The cemetery fell into disuse.
In the late 17th century, Jews began to resettle in Brandenburg. The Jewish community established a new cemetery in 1747. A burial house followed in 1770. The cemetery saw its last expansion around 1840. In 1860, the burial house was rebuilt. But in 1895 a new building replaced it.
Tragedy struck during the Reichspogromnacht on November 9-10, 1938. Nazis desecrated the Jüdischer Friedhof I along with the synagogue. The mourning hall was ravaged. Wilhelm Sievers orchestrated this destruction and the antisemitic attacks. He was the city’s mayor at the time.
During the Holocaust, Jewish communal life was extinguished. The last Jewish residents were deported on April 13, 1942. Only about ten Jewish citizens of Brandenburg survived the Nazi dictatorship.
The state seized the Jüdischer Friedhof I. In December 1943, the city of Brandenburg bought it. They purchased it from the Oberfinanzpräsident Berlin-Brandenburg. He had recently been given ownership by the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland.
In January 1945, the city sold the cemetery to the Brennaborwerke. This occurred just months before the end of World War II. The factory planned to build a sports field there. But the war’s end halted this project. Allied bombing raids heavily damaged the Jüdischer Friedhof I during the final weeks of the war.
In 1947, surviving Jews urged the city to restore the Jüdischer Friedhof I. The city council decided to create a memorial. This decision was made before the day commemorating victims of fascism on September 12, 1948. A second memorial was created at the remaining south wall of the former synagogue. This was located in the playground of the Frederic-Joliot-Curie-School.
The destroyed Jüdischer Friedhof I was cleared. A memorial wall was built along the southeast edge. It was constructed from gravestones. A large central plaque listed the names of local Jewish Holocaust victims. Additional plaques on the wall displayed the names and death dates of those buried in the cemetery. On June 17, 1951, the memorial was handed over to the Jewish community of the GDR.
Every year on the evening of November 9th, silent marches occur. They proceed from the memorial on Großen Münzenstraße to the Jüdischer Friedhof I.
Today the Jüdischer Friedhof I stands as a place of reflection. It is a testament to loss and resilience. It reminds us of the importance of remembrance. It also highlights the need to stand against intolerance. As you leave this place, carry with you the stories etched in stone. Remember the lives of those who rest here.