Memorial on the Site of the Old Jewish Cemetery, Nachod, Czech Republic, 2023
Memorial on the Site of the Old Jewish Cemetery, Nachod, Czech Republic, 2023
The inscription reads: "In memory of Jewish citizens from Nachod who rest in this place for a long time, whose tombstones were destroyed by the Nazis in 1943 'ת'נ'צ'ב'ה " (Na pamatku židovských občanů z Náchodska kteři v těchto mistech odpočívají na vecne casy jejchž nahrobky byly zniceny nacisty v roce 1943)
The cemetery was mentioned for the first time as a "Jewish garden" in 1550, but apparently it was established already at the end of the 15th century. The cemetery was located far outside the city walls and was surrounded by a wall. The cemetery was in use for approximately 400 years, until 1928. Burials were also held at the new Jewish cemetery in the Old Town. The cemetery included a ceremonial hall with a house for the gravedigger dating from 1661.
In 1943, the Nazis ordered the gravestones removed from both cemeteries and the trees cut down. Gravestones were used as building material, among other things, for the regulation of the Radechovka stream, and after processing, they were also used for Christian graves. After WW II, a park was established on the site of the Old Cemetery and the surrounding wall was removed. Thanks to parents, children and teachers from primary school in Komenského Street and with the financial support of the T-Mobile fund, the park was renovated again in 2013.
Photo: Haim H. Ghiuzeli
The Oster Visual Documentation Center, ANU - Museum of the Jewish People, courtesy of Haim H. Ghiuzeli, Israel