Camp Neukirch
Camp Neukirch was a labor camp close to the former city of Breslau, now Wroclaw. A number of Dutch Jewish men who belonged to the so-called Kosel group died in this camp. The Kosel group concerns Jewish men between the ages of 16 and 50 who were taken from the train at Kosel station during a number of transports from Westerbork to Auschwitz in the period from August 28 to December 12, 1942. The aim was forced labor in various labor camps in Upper and Lower Silesia. This area is usually referred to as Central Europe in documentation about the Second World War. At the moment it is Polish territory.
The men who died in Neukirch camp are buried in the Jewish cemetery at Flughafenstrasse No. 54 in Breslau, now ul Lotnicza in Wroclaw. The mass grave is located on field 24 of the cemetery. There is no monument or memorial in the cemetery or at the grave.
There was a stone quarry near the city of Breslau, where there was also a camp where men from the Kosel group died. There was also a camp near the town of Masselwitz where men from the Kosel group died.
The men who died in these camps are also buried in the Jewish cemetery at Flughafenstrasse No. 54 in Breslau, now ul Lotnicza in Wroclaw.
After the war, this area was assigned to Poland. The cemetery has fallen into disrepair. The cemetery became a monument on September 26, 1983.
Volunteers work at the cemetery every year to make it somewhat accessible again. In the short term, field 24 will also be cleared of the overgrown vegetation and the mass grave will be accessible again.
Because there is no monument or memorial, this grave will be forgotten. It would be a nice gesture to place a memorial at this place and give these men a dignified final resting place.
Result of research by the War Graves Foundation
The War Graves Foundation visited the Jewish cemetery at Flughafenstrasse no. 54 in Breslau (now ul Lotnicza Wroclaw). They examined the situation on site and had discussions with the manager. They have come to the conclusion that it is not advisable at this time to place a monument there. Although work is taking place at the cemetery, the condition of the cemetery and the control there is currently not sufficient to ensure that the monument is not damaged or stolen.
There is also contact with the Dutch consul in Wroclaw, who will monitor the situation at the cemetery. If the situation at the cemetery changes for the better in the future, a monument will still be placed there.
Hopefully it will have a positive follow-up.
Contact
We would like to get in touch with surviving relatives or acquaintances of these people. If you have information or a question, your response is also welcome.
You can send your response to Marga
(translated from the Dutch into English language by the editors of the Joods Monument on 16 October 2023)
