Project number: [JOWBR, POL-04126]

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The Debrzno Cemetery in DEBRZNO, POLAND

Visit to Debrzno in June 2012

Debrzno, Poland was formerly Preussisch Friedland, Germany,180.2 miles WNW of Warszawa, 10 miles SW of Człuchów and 81 miles SW of the regional capital Gdańsk. The Gmina (administrative district) covers an area of 86.6 sq. miles and is an urban-rural administrative district) in Człuchów County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Currently the town of Debrzno has a population of 5,280.

Marek Romaniec, former City Council President, who coordinates a local handicraft Co-operative, and is the local historian, showed us the site of the former Synagogue and the site of the former main Jewish Cemetery on Mokotowa Street.

Janek Beme, the current City Council President, took us to the other Jewish Cemetery on the south side of the town, on the far side of Mlynska (Mill Street ) and the Tower Rui. We drove south down Harcerska and parked opposite the Sewerage Works. We entered the clearing in the woods opposite the Sewerage Works and after about 50 metres in an isolated flat area, found the remaining tombstones. There were no signs or markers, walls, gates or fences, merely a sign on a tree saying 'Obiekt Zabytkowy' (Historic Building). In 2005 local youth had a project to clean up the Jewish cemetery and set up the remaining headstones. However, it was vandalised in 2010, so tombstones were damaged, but what was left, was set up again. Now there are about 20-30 visible headstones. We had to walk through knee high weeds to photograph them.

Vicki Israel and Evelyn Frybort
Sydney, Australia

Overview of cemetery

Another overview of cemetery