World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Memorial for Jewish soldiers of World War One and War memorial on the central cemetery of Vienna, Austria

The memorial for Jewish soldiers who fell in World War One is located in the old Israelite section of the Central Cemetery (Gate 1, Group 76B). It was erected in 1928 according to a design by the architect Leopold Ponzen. The octagonal construction in light conglomerate stone and open to the top adopts the shape of a defensive tower with battlements, reminiscent of tablets of commandments.

The war memorial on the central cemetery is a war burial place of the community of Vienna. Constructed in 1925 according to plans of the sculptor Anton Hanak, the front side of the monumental memorial is characterised by a sham entrance gate and the rear by the monumental figure of a “lamenting mother” designed in high relief.

Austria, Vienna

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument

Dimensions

No information available.

State of repair/preservation

The sites are in good condition.

Historical WWI Context

The memorial for Jewish soldiers who fell in World War One is located in the old Israelite section of the central cemetery (Gate 1, Group 76B). It was erected in 1928 according to a design by the architect Leopold Ponzen. The octagonal construction in light conglomerate stone and open to the top adopts the shape of a defensive tower with battlements, reminiscent of tablets of commandments. Seven white marble tablets were attached to the inner walls bearing the names of soldiers classified according to rank and officers. In 1999 the Vienna military commando and the Austrian Black Cross installed a further marble tablet in the entrance area of the memorial, commemorating fallen Jewish soldiers of World War One, the Armed Forces of the First Republic and the victims of the Shoah.

The war memorial on the Central Cemetery was erected in 1925 and was commissioned by the social democratic city administration according to designs by the prominent sculptor Anton Hanak (1875–1934). The front side of the monumental memorial is characterised by a sham entrance gate and the rear depicts the monumental figure of a “lamenting mother”  designed in high relief. The memorial commemorates soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. The war memorial where around 15,000 soldiers were buried independently of their nationality has a size of 35,000 square metres and a semicircular design, and is situated behind the heroes' memorial.

State of legal protection

Owner

Vienna borough council takes care of the upkeep and maintenance.

Kind of cultural use of WWI

No touristic use.

Opening

The memorials are freely accessible during the opening times of the central cemetery:
3 November to the end of February: 8 am to 5 pm
March and 1 October to 2 November: 7 am to 6 pm
April to September: 7 am to 7 pm

 

Further information
Vienna cemeteries: www.friedhoefewien.at
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (HGM), Vienna: www.hgm.at

Entrance Fee

The Central Cemetery memorial sites are publicly accessible.

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Further information:

Bestattungsmuseum: www.bestattungsmuseum.at
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (HGM),Vienna: www.hgm.at
City of Vienna: www.stadt-wien.at, www.wien.info

Accomodation

Further information:

City of Vienna: www.stadt-wien.at, www.wien.info

Public Transport

Further information:

ÖBB: www.oebb.at/
Vienna lines: www.wienerlinien.at

Further information sources

Publication:

Ort – Erinnerung – Denkmal. Relikte des Ersten Weltkriegs. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kunst und Denkmalpflege, Heft 3/4 (2015).

Museums Private Collections

Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (HGM), Vienna
Further information:
www.hgm.at

Location

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