A forgotten Jewish cemetery in Vienna

Where was Austria during the war? Historian Tina Walzer explains why a Jewish Cemetery in the heart of Vienna is ruined and forgotten.

The Jewish Cemetery in Währing opened in 1784. It was the main burial site for members of the Jewish community in Vienna. After its closure in the 1880s, it was partially destroyed during the time of the Third Reich, and is now only partly accessible due to its deteriorating condition. A long-running debate over the restoration of the cemetery has been taking place since 2006 between politicians of the federal and local levels.

Since almost all the relatives of those who lie buried in the cemetery were killed in the Holocaust or had to emigrate, there is no-one left who can tend to the graves. Due to its limited funds, the Jewish community is also unable to contribute significantly to the preservation. Since hardly any resources have been made available for its upkeep by the city of Vienna and the Austrian government, the cemetery is in a state of extreme disrepair.

Due to the overaged tree population and burial vaults partly standing open, visiting the cemetery is currently only possible after signing a liability waiver. A couple of times a year volunteers come together to clean the gravestones and to get rid of the bushes and fallen branches.