International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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Coat of arms of Reszel Alternate names: Reszel, Rössel, Rößel [Ger, Prussian]. 54°03' N 21°09' E, 124.6 miles N of Warszawa. before 1946: This town with a population about 5,700 is the seat of an urban-rural commune called Reszel Gmina, Kêtrzyn powiat, Warmiñsko-mazurskie Voivodship. The former synagogue still stands, ul. Kościuszki. [June 2009]

US Commission No AS 179

Alternate German name: Rossel. Reszel is in Olsztynskie region at 54º03E 21º09N, 67 km. from Olsztyn. Cemetery: Koscuiszki Street. Present population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.

  • Local: Urzad Miasta I Gminy, ul. Swierczewskiego 24, 11-440-Reszel, tel. 106.
  • Regional: Urzad Wojewodski, Wychiat Gospodarki Terenpwej, ul. Pilsudskiego 7/9, 10-959 Olsztyn, tel. 232-276.
  • Interested: mrg. Inz. Elzbieta Szyguta-Zielinska, ul. Switerzianlei 6/3. Tel. 33-29-22.

The earliest known Jewish community dates from 1814. 1933 Jewish population was 1,108. The unlandmarked Orthodox and Progressive/Reform cemetery was established about 1854 with last Jewish burial late 1930s. The isolated suburban hillside by water has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. The pre-and post-WWII size is 0.25 ha. No stones are visible. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent property is residential. Rarely, private visitors and local residents stop. Warm water piping has been laid along the cemetery's border at the street side. Local/municipal authorities clear vegetation. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Security, vegetation, and vandalism are slight threats. Incompatible nearby existing development is a serious threat.

Wiktor Knercer, 10-685 Olsztyn, ul. Barza 33/16, tel. 33-86-07 completed survey in October 1991 (after a visit in Sept.) using Frederichs Deutches Stadtebach, Stuttgart-1939 and Statistiches Handbuch fur die Provinz Ostrpreussen 193_ as documentation. Wiktor Knercer, Panstwowa Sturba Ochrony Zabytkow Oddriat w Olszthni ul. Podvale 1, 10-076 Olsztyn, tel. 27-21-36 may have more information.