WALLERSTEIN: 86757 Bavaria Danube-Ries (Gerz, Peters)
Fifty headstones of the Jewish cemetery were cleaned by students and teachers of two colleges in Noerdlingen and Oettingen. The results of the cleaning process were amazing. Inscriptions that had been thought lost could be seen again. A photographical documentation with text translation and genealogical remarks is in preparation.
Burial lists from the Wallerstein Jewish cemetery exist. These lists were part of the annual tax lists from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Wallerstein was the burial place of Jews from Hainsfarth, Kleinerdlingen, Oberdorf, Oettingen, Pflaumloch and Wallerstein. Lists are at the Harburg castle. Rolf Hofmann (Libanon Strasse 79, 70186 Stuttgart. Contact him for more information.) is doing a transcription and hopes to be finished in the spring of 1999. Source: Rolf Hofmann, Libanon Strasse 79, 70186 Stuttgart, Germany (Harburg Project).
A Jewish Community probably existed since 1348. A large cemetery. In a marshy area where all tombstones face West, some vandalism in 1926, with lots of old as well as newer tombstones; burials to about 1940. Notable tomb of Michael Riess, i.e., Michael Reese [cf. Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago]. Source: Steinerne Zeugnisse juedischen Lebens in Bayern; eine Dokumentation, 2nd ed. by Israel Schwierz. Muenchen: Bayerische Landes- zentrale fuer politische Bildungsarbeit 1992, ISBN 3-87052-398-0, 368 pp. [1st ed. 1988, ISBN 3-87052-393-X, 352 pp.].
283. III 90 Wallerstein, Memorbuch, Heb., photocopy: Source: Leo Baeck Institute -HJ Cemetery list. Source: Leo Baeck Institute. Der Friedhof Wallerstein in: Jüdische Familienforschung 13 (1937). Source: Angelika Ellmann-Krüger.
UPDATE: Juedische Friedhof, 86757 Wallerstein, Germany. Person to contact about grave locations: Rolf Hofmann, Libanon Strasse 79, 70186, Stuttgart, Germany.
The rural (agricultural) cemetery location on flat land is isolated. The cemetery is reached by crossing private property. Access is open with permission of Neumann, school caretaker has the key (according to Rolf Hofmann). The cemetery is surrounded by a hedge or row of trees and has a locking gate. Used for Jewish cemetery purposes only. 20-100 grave markers exist. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Past maintenance includes cleaning stones. No structures. I found that there were piles of dead twigs which had been placed between a number of rows of graves. Whilst I am sure that the twigs had been tidied up and placed there; this would prevent people looking at the graves. It is disrespectful, and if this dry wood was to be set alight it would damage the graves. I have reported it by email to the Mayor (Buergermeister) but I have had no reply. Source completing the survey: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [September 2005]
UPDATE: [September 2013] Photos of the Jewish Cemetery are available here. (http://www.panoramio.com/group/253305)