Jewish Cemetery Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf | History & Monument

The Jewish Cemetery in Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf is a quiet place of great historical depth. It is located in the southwestern part of the municipal South Cemetery and was established as a new Jewish burial site after the older cemetery on Wanner Straße was fully occupied in 1927. For the Jewish community, it remains a place of remembrance and burial to this day. The site is also part of the city's culture of remembrance and a protected cultural monument. Those searching for Jewish history in Gelsenkirchen will find here an authentic testimony of continuity, loss, and preserved tradition. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

How did the Jewish Cemetery in Ückendorf come about?

The history of the cemetery is closely linked to the growth of the Jewish community in Gelsenkirchen. The city describes that the community separated from the Wattenscheid synagogue community as early as 1874 and developed further after the inauguration of the synagogue in 1885. With the integration of Jews from Ückendorf in 1908, the community grew significantly again. When the older Jewish cemetery on Wanner Straße was finally fully occupied with around 400 graves, a new plot had to be found. It was at this historical moment that the new cemetery in Ückendorf was created, dating from 1926/27 and in use since 1927. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/aktuelles/artikel/51200-juedisches-leben-in-gelsenkirchen-von-1870-bis-heute))

Thus, the cemetery does not stand isolated, but as a direct expression of a growing city and a self-confident religious community. The Jewish community needed a new place for burials because the old cemetery had fulfilled its function. Therefore, the cemetery in Ückendorf not only complements the urban cemetery landscape but also tells of continuity in change. It is this connection of Jewish community history, urban development, and burial culture that makes the place so significant. Those who observe it do not see merely a grave field but the material trace of a historical transition. The site documents how Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen developed before the upheaval of the Nazi era and how the city later engaged with this heritage in remembrance. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/aktuelles/artikel/51200-juedisches-leben-in-gelsenkirchen-von-1870-bis-heute))

Even today, the historical line remains visible. The city of Gelsenkirchen points out that the cemetery in Ückendorf is still a burial site for members of the Jewish Community of Gelsenkirchen. Thus, it is not only a place of the past but part of a vibrant present. While the older cemetery in Bulmke is read as the oldest Jewish cemetery in the city in a museum-like and cultural remembrance context, the cemetery in Ückendorf stands for the continued use of Jewish burial culture. It is precisely this dual role of being both a historical testimony and an active burial site that gives it a special status within the city's history. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_juedischer_friedhof_in_gelsenkirchen-bulmke.aspx))

Where is the cemetery located and how can one reach it?

The Jewish Cemetery is located in the southwestern part of the municipal South Cemetery, thus in an area that is part of the cemetery complex in Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf. The official address of the South Cemetery is Günnigfelder Straße 88, 45886 Gelsenkirchen. The municipal cemetery website also mentions the bus connection with line 383 to the Südfriedhof stop. For visitors, it is clear: The place is urban, well integrated into the existing cemetery structure, and accessible via public transport. The proximity to the South Cemetery also helps with orientation, as the Jewish cemetery lies as a separate area within a larger urban complex. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

Practically important is also the historical context of the South Cemetery itself. The cemetery complex was opened in 1903 after the incorporation of the then district of Ückendorf into Gelsenkirchen and covers 15 hectares. Thus, it is one of the large municipal burial grounds in the city. The Jewish cemetery is therefore not an isolated site but part of a larger cemetery landscape that has been growing for more than a century. For the local perception, this means: Those who visit the Jewish cemetery move in an environment characterized by trees, paths, grave fields, and the historical cemetery architecture of the South Cemetery. The location within the larger area emphasizes the close connection between Jewish remembrance and urban space. ([friedhoefe-gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.friedhoefe-gelsenkirchen.de/friedhoefe/))

Additionally, the current shape of the cemetery did not arise by chance. The monument description refers to the area as a residual area of an originally about 5,000 square meter site; the current layout dates from the 1950s. This shows that the place has changed over the decades without losing its core. This is particularly exciting for visitors because here, not a perfectly preserved backdrop awaits but a grown place of remembrance with traces of various epochs. Therefore, those searching for the cemetery in Ückendorf will find a historical ensemble within a modern urban cemetery structure that continues to make its old significance visible. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

What role does the South Cemetery play as a monument site?

The Jewish Cemetery in Ückendorf is explicitly a monument. In the monument list of the city of Gelsenkirchen, it bears the number A 294. The Lower Monument Authority describes the entire Jewish cemetery as worthy of preservation, as well as all gravestones created before 1945. This is an important note, as it concerns not only a limited part of the area but the overall structure of land, gravestones, and historical substance. The monument status thus protects not only individual stones but the overall appearance of the site as a preserved testimony of Jewish burial culture in Gelsenkirchen. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

It is also noteworthy what the monument description explicitly excludes. The new mourning hall is not considered worthy of preservation. This distinction shows that the historical value of the cemetery primarily arises from the old stock and the preserved layout. For local perception, this means a clear separation between historical substance and modern addition. At the same time, the monument authority and municipal information point out that numerous buildings and objects still show their original form and substance. The cemetery is therefore a place where one does not read history abstractly but finds it readable in material, structure, and landscape. This makes it particularly valuable for historical education and culture of remembrance. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

As a monument site, the cemetery also fits into the larger picture of the city's culture of remembrance. The city of Gelsenkirchen integrates Jewish cemeteries, places of remembrance, and history into its public information offerings. This is more than mere administration: it shows that Jewish past is understood as part of the city's history. The cemetery in Ückendorf thus stands not only for burial rituals but also for the responsibility to keep the historical tradition visible. Precisely because the site is still in use, it connects protection and presence in a special way. It is a monument-protected space that is not frozen but is actively integrated into the present. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/aktuelles/artikel/51200-juedisches-leben-in-gelsenkirchen-von-1870-bis-heute))

What do gravestones and Jewish symbolism tell us?

The city of Gelsenkirchen describes the old Jewish cemetery in Bulmke as a testimony to Jewish burial culture and explains central symbols and traditions there. These hints also help in understanding Jewish cemeteries in general and thus in looking at the cemetery in Ückendorf. During tours, Hebrew letters on gravestones, hands, jugs, and small stones are thematized. Even this selection shows how much significance is embedded in the design of Jewish graves. A cemetery is not merely a place of farewell in this tradition but also a place of learning about language, memory, and religious forms of commemoration. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Kultur-_und_Veranstaltungsorte/Synagoge_Gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))

Particularly important is the city's formulation that the Jewish cemetery is a good place and a testimony to Jewish burial culture. This perspective helps to see the site in Ückendorf not only as a historical area but as part of a grown culture of remembrance. Gravestones are more than markers here. They carry names, symbols, and often references to belonging, family, and religious tradition. Even without interpreting each individual symbol in detail, it becomes clear that the cemetery functions as a visual archive. It preserves not only data but also forms of respect towards the deceased. This is exactly what gives it its cultural value. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Kultur-_und_Veranstaltungsorte/Synagoge_Gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))

For visitors, this is particularly impressive because the symbolism does not appear detached from the landscape but is embedded in the overall site. The Jewish cemetery in Ückendorf belongs to a larger ensemble of Jewish history in Gelsenkirchen, which also includes the older cemetery in Bulmke and the community's city history. Thus, those observing the site do not see only gravestones but a narrative about community, religious practice, and historical breaks. The signs on the stones, the orientation of the graves, and the quiet character of the place together create an atmosphere in which remembrance remains visible. This is precisely where the lasting power of such cemeteries lies. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Kultur-_und_Veranstaltungsorte/Synagoge_Gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))

Visiting and Tours: What Visitors Should Know

The city of Gelsenkirchen has included the New Jewish Cemetery in Ückendorf in its tour offerings. In the published description, the tour was bookable online; the meeting point was mentioned as the gate at Dördelmannshof 46a, and registration through the city and tourist information was planned. Even if such offers can be time-bound, they clearly show that the cemetery is conveyed not only in theory but also practically. For visitors, this means: Those who want to get to know the place in depth should look out for current municipal tours or offers from the Jewish community. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Kultur-_und_Veranstaltungsorte/Synagoge_Gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))

Especially at a place like this, a guided approach makes sense. The cemetery is quiet, historically sensitive, and rich in signs that only reveal themselves with background knowledge. A tour can explain why certain symbols appear on gravestones, why small stones lie on graves, and how Jewish cemetery culture is understood in everyday life. Thus, a walk becomes a historical learning experience. At the same time, such a visit helps to connect respect and orientation. The cemetery is not a place for fleeting impressions but for attention, calm, and the conscious perception of history. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Kultur-_und_Veranstaltungsorte/Synagoge_Gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))

Practically, the place is also suitable if one wants to understand the South Cemetery as part of the urban cemetery landscape. The site in Ückendorf shows how closely history, urban development, and remembrance intertwine. Therefore, those visiting the Jewish cemetery can not only ask about graves but also about the development of the district, the establishment of the cemetery complex, and the role of Jewish community sites in Gelsenkirchen. The visit thus becomes a quiet yet very dense form of urban exploration. This is precisely what makes the place so attractive for historically interested people. ([friedhoefe-gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.friedhoefe-gelsenkirchen.de/friedhoefe/))

Why the cemetery is important for Gelsenkirchen today

The cemetery in Ückendorf is today more than a historical relic. The city continues to refer to it as a burial site for members of the Jewish Community of Gelsenkirchen. This means: Here, memory connects with the present. A cemetery that has existed since the late 1920s and is still in use tells a particularly long-term story of continuity. In a city whose Jewish life was severely affected by persecution and destruction, this place is a visible sign that Jewish presence and Jewish culture are not only part of the past but still have a place. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/aktuelles/artikel/68852-demokratische-initiative-ruft-zum-gedenken-an-novemberpogrome-der-nazis-auf))

The development of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen makes this significance even clearer. The city reminds that the community emerged in the 19th century, received its own synagogue in 1885, integrated members from Ückendorf in 1908, and that the older cemetery had to be closed in 1927. This historical web shows how closely the cemetery, community, synagogue, and urban development are interconnected. The cemetery in Ückendorf thus stands not only for burial but for the history of a vibrant community whose traces are to be preserved in the city. Therefore, it is also a place of educational and cultural remembrance work. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/aktuelles/artikel/51200-juedisches-leben-in-gelsenkirchen-von-1870-bis-heute))

Those searching for the Jewish Cemetery Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf today are often looking for more than an address. They seek origins, significance, and orientation in a historical space. Exactly this is what this place offers: a clearly comprehensible access to the Jewish history of the city, to the forms of commemoration, and to a monument that is not only preserved but continues to be part of life. Through its location in the South Cemetery, its monument status, and its integration into the city's culture of remembrance, the cemetery remains an important reference point for Gelsenkirchen. It shows how history can remain visible in the everyday life of a city without being loud. ([geodata.gelsenkirchen.de](https://geodata.gelsenkirchen.de/medien/KU_Denkmalkataster/pdf/A294.pdf))

Sources:

• City of Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Life in Gelsenkirchen from 1870 to Present
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Cemetery, Monument List A 294
• Cemeteries Gelsenkirchen - South Cemetery
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen and Tours
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Cemetery in Gelsenkirchen-Bulmke