An excursion to Ostroh

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues, Volhynia (Volyn)

The synagogue of Ostroh is in a sad state. However, the Jewish cemetery was found in surprisingly good condition during my today’s visit. I have rarely seen such a well-kept Jewish cemetery in Ukraine.

Ostroh synagogue

Ostroh Jewish cemetery

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A walk through Lutsk

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Synagogues, Volhynia (Volyn)

Volhynia was ruled from Lutsk for centuries. The impressive fortress that was never conquered throughout its history, still bears witness of this periode. The massive towers of the fortress are without doubt the landmark of the city, but there is more to discover. Join me on a walk through Lutsk with its multiethnic past and present!

Lutsk castle

Lutsk – Jewish community center

Lutsk – old town

Lutsk – former Jewish district

Lutsk – synagogue

Lutsk – memorial plaque at the synagogue

Lutsk – synagogue

Lutsk – protestant church

A warming cat on my shoes

Lutsk – house on an artist

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Into The Nothing

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Volhynia (Volyn)

Trochenbrod (Trachimbrod, Sofiyovka) was an all-Jewish town that was completely wiped out. Not a single stone has been preserved from a place with formerly 6,000 residents. Nevertheless Trochenbrod has a unique afterlife – the place became famous through Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel “Everything Is Illuminated” and the film adaptation by the same title. Like many others, I thought Trochenbrod was fiction. But Trochenbrod existed.

Trochenbrod memorial

Trochenbrod – former main road

On the way to Trochenbrod

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Lviv welcomed me with snow

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia

After so many years of returning, it is a kind of homecoming when I go back to Lviv (Lwow, Lemberg). This time, Lviv welcomed me with snow. Upon my arrival at the airport heavy white snowflakes were falling and now it looks like it will not stop. A nice start for a new journey.

Mickiewicz Square – in front of the George

George Hotel

Christmas tree (left), me (right) in George Hotel 🙂

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My book coming soon

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Northern Bukovina

Many of you followed my wanderings through Galicia and Bukovina and I’m grateful to you and your comments. With me was my old camera; I took photos whenever I was travelling in the last two years. Classic black and white photography. Thanks to the Rhineland Regional Association I’m now able to publish some of my photos as a book.

Titel “Spurensuche”

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Krakow in black and white

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Western Galicia

Today I received the scans of the films shot during the recent trip to Krakow. Without further comments I post here a first selection of pictures. They were taken on a foggy day at the two Jewish cemeteries of the city and at the site of former Plaszow concentration camp. If you like to learn more about the trip you should read the posts from October 30 and November 1.

Krakow – Old Jewish Cemetery

Krakow – New Jewish Cemetery

Krakow – Plaszow concentration camp site

In The Mist

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Western Galicia

Podgorze is the other Krakow. West of Vistula river – opposite the old town – there are no magnificent old buildings, no picturesque places and no cozy cafes for locals and tourists. Severity hangs over the houses from the 19th century and the interwar period. Many facades are blackened by the smoke of industry, some house are empty – the windows boarded up. Podgorze is the district in which the Nazis established a ghetto – for its Jewish inhabitants it was the beginning of the end. Further west is Plaszow, the territory of a former concentration camp.

Podgorze – remains of the ghetto wall

Podgorze

Plaszow – mansion of the camp commander

Plaszow – accomodation of the SS guards

Plaszow – blown up building

Plaszow

Plaszow – quarry

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Krakow – No Sentimental Journey

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues, Western Galicia

In Krakow, my love to Eastern Europe and its Jewish heritage begun about 20 years ago. Since then I have been there again and again. Last weekend I was back in Krakow. Much has changed since my first visit. Krakow is now a city of mass tourism and it is also the Jewish past and present, which attracts visitors from all over the world.

Krakow – Old Jewish Cemetery

Krakow – wall painting in Isaac Synagogue

Krakow – Temple Synagogue

Krakow – shop sign of a hat maker

Krakow – New Jewish Cemetery

In Krakow, my love to Eastern Europe and its Jewish heritage begun about 20 years ago. Since then I have been there again and again. Last weekend I was back in Krakow. Much has changed since my first visit. Krakow is now a city of mass tourism and it is also the Jewish past, which attracts visitors from all over the world. https://vanishedworld.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/krakow-no-sentimental-journey/

Krakow – Beit Midrash (study house) in Kazimierz

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Your Help Is Needed!

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Uncategorized

Anyone donating at least 40 Euro for women and children whose husbands and fathers have been killed in the war in the east of Ukraine, gets a high quality print of one of my photos. Three prints are available this month.

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), mortuary hall at the Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), Jewish Cemetery

Rohatyn, Old Jewish Cemetery

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The work-camp, that was held nevertheless

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina

The editors of “Die Stimme” (The Voice)–the monthly bulletin of the Bukovinian Jews–were recently so kind to publish my report on this year’s work-camp of SVIT Ukraine to clear the Jewish cemetery of Chernivtsi (Czernowitz). Even today, “Die Stimme” is published in German in Israel. It moves me every time when I pull a new edition out of my letter box. But it also has the disadvantage that many can not read the articles any more. Therefore, here is an English translation of my report.