Old Jewish cemetery Krefeld

The first mention of the old Jewish cemetery on Heideckerstrasse dates back to 1723. The Jewish community had initially leased the site before acquiring it in 1744 through the then community leader Hertz Levi.

Already in the course of the 18th century- or at the beginning of the 19th century, the first extensions of the cemetery took place. In 1854, the next expansion took place with the acquisition of the land adjacent to the north side of the burial ground.

Sometime between the years 1883 and 1889, the burial hall, which still stands today, was built in the cemetery.

After the opening of the new Jewish cemetery on the old Gladbacher Straße, there is hardly any information left about the old Jewish cemetery. In the course of road construction in 1916, a narrow strip of the plot was cut off from Heideckerstrasse.

In 1935, due to the closure of the cemetery in Osterath a total of 17 graves were moved to the cemetery on Heideckerstrasse.

The last burial took place here in 1938. From the year 1943 both burial grounds were to be sold compulsorily. The city of Krefeld appeared as an interested party, but it is unclear whether the purchase actually came to fruition.

Already in 1945, the American military administration ordered extensive restitution for the Jewish cemetery. It contains a total of 560 gravestones, the oldest of which dates back to 1770.

The cemetery, which today is surrounded by the municipal cemetery, is not freely accessible.