Fürth, Bavaria, Germany — Central Europe
Synagogendenkmal
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Memorial for the Synagogues
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 5, 2026
1. Synagogendenkmal / Memorial for the Synagogues - wide view
The memorial text circles the monument at its base.
(Hebrew not transcribed)
Zur Erinnerung an die Synagogen die hier am 9. Nov. 1938 zerstört wurden • Zum Gedenken an das Wirken unserer jüdischen Burger, Ihre Opfer und Leiden durch den Nationalsozialismus
Eternal One, the peoples have invaded your property, defiling your sanctuary. They shed blood like water; we became the laughingstock of our neighbors. Psalm 79
In memory of the synagogues destroyed here on November 9, 1938 • In remembrance of the work of our Jewish citizens, their sacrifices and suffering under National Socialism
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Synagogues, and the The Holocaust series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 9, 1938.
Location. 49° 28.751′ N, 10° 59.155′ E. Marker is in Fürth, Bayern (Bavaria). It is on Geleitsgasse, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Geleitsgasse 3,
this page online
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Israelitischer Schulhof / The Jewish “Schulhof” (a few steps from this marker); Ehemaliger Standort des Geleitshauses / Former Location of the Trade Escort Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Marktplatz / Market Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Mahnmal zum Gedenken an die Fürther Sinti / Fürth Sinti Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Ehemalige Löwenapotheke / Former Loew Pharmacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Ehemaliger Eingang zum israelitischen Schulhof / Former Entrance to the Jewish Community Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Geburtshaus von Wilhelm Löhe / Birthplace of Wilhelm Löhe (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fürth.
Also see . . .
1. Synagogendenkmal (FürthWiki, in German).
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 5, 2026
2. Synagogendenkmal / Memorial for the Synagogues - partial inscription
The Synagogue Memorial has stood in Geleitgasse since 1986. Its dedication took place on June 26, 1986. It commemorates the "Schulhof," the former center of Fürth's long-established and significant Jewish community.(Submitted on March 24, 2026.)
The memorial is all that remains of this center of Jewish life in old Fürth. Through destruction and redevelopment, this important site in Fürth's history has been completely lost. The actual Schulhof, however, was located approximately 30-40 meters further towards the town hall, behind the current buildings at Geleitgasse 3-5.
The memorial was created by Kunihiko Kato, a Japanese artist living in Fürth.
With its small flames, the Synagogue Memorial recalls the eternal light in a synagogue, while the large flames symbolize the menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum. The seven seeds in the pod are meant to represent life and express the hope for a new life for the Jewish people after the Holocaust.
2. Reichspogromnacht in Fürth (FürthWiki, in German). Excerpt (in translation):
Destruction during Kristallnacht: …It was only after midnight that Mayor Franz Jakob is said to have learned of impending actions against the Jews.(Submitted on March 24, 2026.)This rumor also included the "setting on fire of Jewish buildings." Since these were scattered throughout Fürth, and especially the synagogues, were located in the densely built-up old town, there was an acute fire hazard for the old town. Jakob ordered the fire department's technical director, Johannes Rachfahl, to protect all buildings adjacent to the designated fire zones—the large and small synagogues, the orphanage, the secondary school, and the Jewish hospital—at all costs.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 5, 20263. Synagogendenkmal / Memorial for the Synagogues - partial inscription
SA-Obersturmführer von Obernitz mobilized his force of about 150 men; most of them were students from the SA school in the Fürth city forest. Between 1:00 and 1:30 a.m., they used battering rams to blow open the heavy iron gates that separated Jewish property between Königstrasse and Mohrenstrasse. Inside the synagogue, they smashed the Torah ark, removed the prayer scrolls, threw everything they tore from the walls into a pile, and set it on fire. The fire quickly spread throughout the entire synagogue. Albert Neubürger, a leading member of the Jewish community, was dragged from his bed, and “some SA men led the Jewish lawyer Neubürger, who was bleeding from the head and whose clothes were torn, into the synagogue. They dragged himinto an adjacent building where the Jewish community's welfare office was located. There, they tried to ram the door with his head…” Neubürger escaped further torture only because the caretaker had meanwhile unlocked the door with a key. As instructed, the fire brigade protected the neighboring buildings but also wanted to extinguish the fire inside the synagogue itself, which was prevented by SA men. By morning, the synagogue had burned to the ground.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 5, 20264. Synagogendenkmal / Memorial for the Synagogues - wider view
That night, further violence ensued: the windows of Jewish shops were smashed, the inventory was destroyed, and some of the merchandise was looted. Almost all the Jews were taken from their homes and herded together in Schlageterplatz. There, Rabbi Siegfried Behrens was forced to trample on a Torah scroll amid the jeers of the gawking crowd. The Orthodox Rabbi Leo Breslauer had his beard shaved off at the same location.…
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 24, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
