HISTORY

According to the 1935 census, Liepaja Jews numbered 7,379 and accounted for 12.9% of the city’s total population.      During World War II almost the whole Jewish Community of Liepaja was exterminated with only 25 Jews surviving in Liepaja after the World War II.
Most of the significant Jewish properties were destroyed during the bombing of the city, including 11 synagogues and prayer houses.
When the Jewish Community’s activities renewed its activities in 1989, significant attention was paid to research, preservation and promotion of the Liepaja Jewish heritage.

Memorial sites

  1. Shkede dunes: Memorial to the Jews of Liepaja – victims of the Holocaust 1941-1945. It was here that, on 15-17 December 1941 thousands of Liepaja Jews were murdered (dedicated on 03 June 2005) (photo)
  2. Shkede dunes: “The Righteous Gentiles Alley”dedicated to 27 Liepaja Gentiles who saved or aided Liepaja Jews (dedicated on 09 July 2014) (photo)
  3. Liepaja Livas cemetery Jewish sector at Cenkones str. 18/20:
    • Liepaja Holocaust Memorial Wall bearing the names of Liepaja Jews exterminated during the Holocaust (dedicated on 9 June 2004)
    • Memorial stone commemorating Jewish WWII victims (dedicated in 1993) 
    • Monument and mass grave of Jewish soldiers who fought for the independence of the State of Latvia in 1918-1919
    • Mass grave bearing the names of Jewish soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany during WWII
  4. Commemorative column on site of pre-war Liepaja Great Synagogue (destroyed at the beginning of 1941), Kurshu (Kuršu) Str.11/13 – Rozhu (Rožu) str. 7: 
  5. Memorial plaque in commemoration of Liepaja Jews murdered at the lighthouse and on the shore at the beginning of WW II,  Zvejnieku aleja 7 
  6. Memorial Stone.  It was here that, at the beginning of World War II, the first victims of the Holocaust were killed and buried. Later human remains of Holocaust victims were reburied in common graves in the Jewish and Central Cemeteries, Raiņa   Park.  
  7. Former women’s prison. It was here that, at the beginning of World War II, hundreds of Jews were rounded up and taken to the Shkede (Šķēde) dunes and killed, Tiesas str. 5.  
  8. Liepāja Ghetto Memorial Stone  , at Kungu/Dārzu/Bariņu and Apšu block of streets, where Liepāja Jewish ghetto was located from 01 July, 1942- 8 October, 1943.
  9.  Former Fireplace square.  During the Holocaust, thousands of Liepaja Jews were rounded up here and later sent to forced labour camps, from which most never returned, Tirgoju iela 18. 
  10. Memorial plaque on façade at 22 Tirgoņu St ( former No,14). During the period of October 1943 to May 1945 in the shelter at the back of the basement, beneath the bakery, Johanna and Roberts Sedols hid and saved 11 Jews. For this heroic deed they were honored as “Righteous among the Nations” by the State of Israel, Tirgoņu iela 22

Gallery