LEWIN BRZESKI: Opolskie

Lewin Brzeski, Lewin, Löwen [Ger], Luoien, 50°45' N 17°37' E, 178.5 miles SW of Warszawa. Lewin Brzeski  is a town in Brzeg powiat, Opole Voivodeship, with 5,843 inhabitants in 2004. Gmina Lewin Brzeski is an urban-rural administrative district in Brzeg County, Opole Voivodeship in SW Poland with its seat as the town of Lewin Brzeski, 17 km (11 mi) SE of Brzeg and 25 km (16 mi) NWt of the regional capital Opole.The gmina 2006 total population was 13,555 with the town, 5,826. [June 2009]

US Commission No. POCE000525

(Alternate name: Lowen in German) Lewin Brzeski is located in Opolskie at 50º4517º37, 27 km from Opole. Cemetery location: ul. Powstańców Śląskich. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.

• Town: Urzad Miasta i Gminy, Rynek-Ratusz, tel. 341.
  
• Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytkow, mgr. J. Prusiewicz, 45-082 Opole, ul. Piastowska 14.

The earliest known Jewish community was 18th century. 1937 Jewish population was 30. The Progressive/Reform Jewish cemetery was established in 1880. The isolated rural (agricultural) flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall or gate. 1-20 flat stones with carved relief decoration, none in original locations with less than 25% toppled or broken, have German inscriptions. No mass graves. A private individual owns site used for agriculture. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Local residents rarely visit. The cemetery is vandalized occasionally. There is no maintenance or care. There are no structures. Vandalism is a very serious threat. The cemetery is completely destroyed.
Marcin Wodzinski, ul. Jednosci Narodowej 187/13, Wroclaw, tel. 216908 visited site and completed survey 13 March 1992. No interviews.