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The forgotten Jewish cemetery in Viersen: history and fate
Find out more about the Jewish cemetery in Viersen, its history, important personalities and today's memorial initiatives.
The forgotten Jewish cemetery in Viersen: history and fate
In the middle of the modern city of Viersen there is a place of historical importance: the Jewish cemetery, which is located in the district of Viersen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Covering an area of around 1,600 square meters and containing around 40 graves, this cemetery is not only a place of remembrance, but also a testament to the region's Jewish past. The first Jewish cemetery was founded on Florastraße as early as 1829 and was in operation until 1907 and offered space for around 100 graves. After its closure, the Jewish community had to move to this new cemetery, which was occupied until 1940 and later 1968, as rp-online.de reports.
However, the youngest cemetery is not just a simple burial ground; he also tells about the fates of its residents. Nathan Bernhard, a Jewish citizen who worked at the registry office for 42 years, died in 1927. Another notable case is the butcher Josef Cleffmann, whose funeral took place in 1912 in the presence of 80 firefighters. The life of Hermann Lewin, who was arrested by the Gestapo and possibly died by falling in front of a train, ended tragically.
The design of the cemetery and its history
It is essential for Jewish cemeteries to face east in order to show the deceased the way to Jerusalem. In the Viersen cemetery, the gravestones are rather simple, in contrast to many other Jewish burial sites. Most of them received uniform gravestones after the Second World War, of which only three original black gravestones remain today.
A notable turning point in the history of the cemetery was the time of National Socialism. During this time, the preservation of the cemetery was seriously endangered, and in 1942 most of the Jews were deported. After the war, the area was redesigned in 1945, and a memorial stone with a Star of David was erected in 1948 in honor of the deceased.
The cemetery today
The Jewish cemetery in Viersen is currently a place of remembrance and respect for the Jewish community. On July 5, 2025, Beatrix Wolters conducted an informative tour of the Jewish part of the cemetery to keep the memory of the deceased and the history of the Jewish community in Viersen alive. When visiting the cemetery, those interested can also consciously engage with the events of the past and the future need for remembrance.
Ultimately, the cemetery proves to be not only a historical monument, but also an example of the challenges that the Jewish community still has to face today. A contract between the Jewish community and the city of Viersen to transfer gravestones to the new cemetery was not fulfilled, which put the community in economic distress. These past difficulties shed light on community resilience and the importance of remembering those who have died.
The Jewish cemetery in Viersen is therefore not only a place where history remains alive, but also a sign of the strength and will to survive of a cultural identity that is still very popular today, especially when it comes to awareness of tolerance and diversity.