Jüdischer Friedhof

The Jüdischer Friedhof in Potsdam occupies the Pfingstberg, a hill once called Eichberg and later Judenberg. Potsdam’s Jewish community received the land in 1743. Before that grant, the community transported its dead to Berlin for burial. The grounds stretch across the Pfingstberg hill. The wall replaced the original fence in 1801 and contains family burial structures from Potsdam’s Jewish community. The funeral hall and gardener’s house date from 1910 and 1911. Together, the cemetery and its buildings record Jewish life in the former Prussian residence and garrison town. Two memorials honour Jewish soldiers and deported Potsdam Jews. Nazi persecution brought plunder, attempted arson and the removal of grave metal during the twentieth century. Acid damaged Jewish tombstones here in 1980. Potsdam added the cemetery to its monument list in 1977, before UNESCO World Heritage recognition followed in 1999. The site remains a memorial within Potsdam.