This collection of documents generally contains statements, financial overviews, and reports to the local Vienna city authorities on Jewish cemeteries in the city of Vienna in 1940-1941 in about 50 pages.

Documents about Jewish Cemeteries in Vienna (1940–1941)

Document 1: Official Letter (Vienna, August 2, 1940)

Copy
Ref. IV/8-B/A12/24/40
Vienna, August 2, 1940

Subject: Official meeting at the Planning Office re: Matter No. 604 – Continuation of the legal and other prerequisites for the land acquisition and conversion of the former Jewish cemeteries by the municipal administration.

Today I was informed by the Special Commissioner for the Assets of the Israelite Community (I.K.G.), Party Member Brunner, of the following. At the official meeting held at the Planning Office on January 25, 1940, in which the following persons participated: the Special Commissioner for the assets of the I.K.G. Pg. Brunner, IV/91 Senatsrat (Councilor) Ing. Hein, IV/19 (Cemetery Administration) Building Councilor Ing. Pichler, among others, Party Member Brunner reported on the status of preparatory measures as follows. The Jewish cemeteries and related lands still used for cemetery purposes have been divided into two groups:

• Group 1: Central Cemetery (Section I) in the 11th District, the cemetery on Ruthnergasse (21st District), the cemetery plot in Groß-Enzersdorf (22nd District), the cemetery plot in Mauer (24th District).
• Group 2: the old Jewish cemetery in Währing (18th District), the Jewish cemetery on Seegasse (9th District).

With regard to the cemeteries of Group 2, there is a contract between the I.K.G. and the City of Vienna to the effect that the rights to these cemeteries remain with the Community (i.e. the perpetual resting rights are guaranteed) and they cannot be repurposed without the Community’s consent.

Given this situation, I request, in accordance with the understanding reached at the meeting on 25.1.1940, that the issue of the dissolution of the Jewish cemeteries be submitted to the Vienna City Council for resolution, and that the necessary legal steps be initiated to transfer all these cemeteries into municipal ownership.

Heil Hitler!
Senatsrat (Ing.) Hein

Document 2: Vienna City Council Decision (January 8, 1941)

Vienna, January 8, 1941
Subject: Dissolution of Jewish cemeteries in Vienna

The Vienna City Council, at its session on January 8, 1941, resolved that all Jewish cemeteries in Vienna are to be dissolved (closed). The implementation of this decision is to be carried out under the direction of the Planning Office in cooperation with the Special Commissioner for the assets of the I.K.G. After the clearing of the cemeteries, the sites are to be utilized for other purposes by the city.

Heil Hitler!
Mayor of Vienna

Summary

In August 1940, the Vienna municipal authorities addressed the issue of transferring Jewish cemeteries into city ownership for repurposing. At an official meeting on January 25, 1940, it was determined that all Jewish cemeteries in Vienna would be classified into two groups. The first group comprised cemeteries that could be immediately seized for city needs, and the second group consisted of major cemeteries protected by an existing agreement with the Jewish community. In view of this, city officials requested that the matter of liquidating these cemeteries be presented to the city leadership for a decision.

As a result, on January 8, 1941, the Vienna City Council officially decided to dissolve all Jewish cemeteries. The execution of this decision was assigned to municipal departments in cooperation with the special commissioner for the Jewish community’s assets. Subsequently, in the summer of 1941, the city began the destruction of graves in these cemeteries, planning to use the cleared land for other purposes.

Payment Options >>

Delivery Info >>