In 1526, Silesia came under the rule of German emperors. In 1534, the presence of Jews was recorded in Głogówek again. In 1562, the regional assembly of the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz adopted a resolution obliging the Jews to sell their houses, pay their debts and leave the duchy within a year. In this way, the Jews were removed from Głogówek in 1563.

In 1625, the owner of Głogówek, Duke George of Oppersdorf, employed a Jew to manage the castle distillery. His friendly policy towards Jews attracted more Jewish families to the town. In the years 1631 and 1633, there was a plague in Głogówek, which the Jews were again accused of causing. After being expelled from the town, the Jews moved to Biała, located nearby; however, their presence in Głogówek was recorded again in 1694.

The driving force behind the development of the Jewish community was the “Civic Relations Edict” issued by King Frederick William on 11 March 1812. This document, commonly known as the "Emancipation Edict", introduced a fundamental change in the situation of Jews in the Kingdom of Prussia, making them partially equal with Christian citizens in legal terms. At the time the edict was issued, there was one Jewish family living in Głogówek.

In 1840, 133 Jews lived in Głogówek (4.3% of the total population).

In 1858, there were 158 Jews living in Głogówek (4% of the total population). In 1864, a new synagogue was built to replace the previous building. In 1880, the size of the local Jewish community reached its maximum - 170 people.

After the end of the First World War and the rebirth of the Polish state, the majority of Upper Silesian Jews supported the Germans. As a result of the plebiscite of 20 March 1921, Głogówek remained in Germany.

In 1932, 50 Jews lived in Głogówek (0.7% of the total population). A year later, the number of Jews was 63.

Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1933 significantly changed the situation of the Jewish population in Germany.

During the so-called Kristallnacht of 9–10 November 1938, organised pogroms against the Jewish population took place in Germany. They also affected Głogówek, where the interior of the local synagogue and many properties that belonged to Jews were demolished. Those events intensified the emigration of the Jewish population. On 19 November 1942, there were still 6 Jews living in Głogówek.

The proof of the existence of a Jewish cemetery in Głogówek at the beginning of the third decade of the nineteenth century is the oldest identified tombstone found on the grave of thirty-three-year-old Jettel Loewe, who died on Thursday night, on 16 August 1821. Prior to that, the local community had used the cemetery in Biała.

The Description

The necropolis was located outside the city, approximately one and a half kilometres north of the city centre, on the slope of a small hill, on the left side of the road to Krapkowice, next to the present Olynyk Street (ul. Olszynka). The cemetery is situated on a plot of 0.4 ha; however, the burial space - most likely extended to the west at some point – with a fence around it, is half the size. In its south-west corner, on an artificially created plane, by the road, a funeral home and a smaller building for a caretaker were erected, which no longer exist. Currently, most of the cemetery is located within the administrative borders of the town of Głogówek, while its northern section is part of the village of Rzepcze.

As there are no death certificates of the Jewish population from the region of Głogówek, e.g. from the second and third decades of the 19th century, it is impossible to establish who the first person buried in the cemetery was or to determine when the necropolis began to function. It is probable that approximately 200 adults were buried there. The last person buried at the cemetery before 1945 was cantor Julian Levinsohn, who died on 15 March 1936.

On 4 July 1939, the necropolis became the property of the Reich Association of Jews in Germany (Polish: Zrzeszenie Żydów w Niemczech), which, in that area, was represented by the local office in Gliwice; on 10 June 1943, the cemetery was seized by the Gestapo and handed over to the district tax office. There was no damage to the cemetery until July 1940. Most probably, the cemetery survived in very good condition until 1945.

After the Second World War, the cemetery, left unattended, gradually deteriorated, to which the human factor also contributed. Some tombstones were stolen, as well as all metal elements, including the spans of the majestic fence. All buildings were also demolished. The condition of the cemetery has improved slightly in recent years. An inventory of all tombstones and surviving stone elements was performed in 2022.

In 1954 - when the cemetery was still in relatively good condition - the last funeral took place. Karl Austerlitz, who died on 6 February 1954, was buried at that time. The location of his grave is unknown today.

The building is listed in the register of historical monuments of the Opolskie Province (no. 242/90 of 14 March 1990).

Author of the note: Sławomir Pastuszka

Właściciel praw autorskich do opisu: Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN.