Berliner Innenstadt in Mitte, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)

Profit & Pogrom

Photographed by James Hulse, March 7, 2026

1. Profit & Pogrom Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

German:
1540 bis 1585 befand sich die Kurfürstliche Münze in der Poststraße. Ihr stand ab 1565 der jüdische Münzmeister Lippold vor. Dies war keine Selbstverständlichkeit, denn schließlich hatte das letzte Judenpogrom in Brandenburg erst 1510 stattgefunden und 38 Juden das Leben gekostet, die übrigen hatte man aus dem Land getrieben, wie schon zuvor 1349, 1373, 1405 und 1446.

Der Prasssucht des Kurfürsten Joachim II. ist es zu verdanken, dass sich 30 Jahre später Juden wieder ansiedeln durften - freilich gegen Zahlung eines saftigen Entgeldes!

1556 zum Judenältesten ernannt, musste Lippold für den Fürsten die „Schutzgelder" von den Juden einziehen und ihm Darlehen beschaffen. 1565 machte der Kurfürst ihn zum Münzmeister und Kämmerer; so hatte Lippold zwar eine einflussreiche und lukrative Position inne, wurde jedoch von den Bürgern als Auspresser wahrgenommen. Seine mit dem Davidstern geprägten Münzen ließen nach dem Empfinden der meisten Bürger keinerlei Zweifel an dieser Sicht zu. Der Kurfürst profitierte. Als er 1571 plötzlich an erstickendem Husten verstarb, wurde Lippold sofort verhaftet, die

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Vorwürfe gegen ihn allerdings schnell fallengelassen. Jedoch muss die Gelegenheit, Lippold und durch neuerliche Pogrome auch alle anderen jüdischen Gläubiger loszuwerden, für den verschuldeten Hof so attraktiv gewesen sein, dass der Thronfolger als Inhaber der höchsten Gerichtsbarkeit abermals das Verfahren eröffnete: Des Giftmordes und der Zauberei beschuldigt, gestand Lippold unter grausamster Folter, im Besitz eines „Zauberbuches" zu sein. Obwohl ein Mord an Joachim ihm ja offenkundig am allermeisten geschadet hätte und es Entlastungszeugen gab, wurde er 1573 verurteilt. Unter dem Jubel der Berliner wurde er ausgeweidet und gevierteilt, die Juden wieder einmal aus dem Land getrieben.

Zeitgenössische Darstellung der Hinrichtung Lippold ben Judel Chluchim

English:
From 1540-85, the mint of Brandenburg was located on Poststrasse. In 1565, Lippold ben Judel, a Jew, was appointed master of the mint. Anti-Semitism was prevalent at the time; the most recent pogrom had taken place in 1510. At least 38 Jews were killed, the others driven out of the country, in much the same manner as 1349, 1373, 1405 and 1446.

In 1540, due

Photographed by James Hulse, March 7, 2026

2. Profit & Pogrom Marker

The Profit & Pogrom marker is located on the left side, and the Ephraims Mobilie marker is located on the right side.

to the greed of Prince-Elector Joachim II, Jews were once again allowed to settle in Brandenburg - for a considerable fee!

Appointed Jewish Elder in 1556, Lippold was responsible for collecting protection money from the Jewish community and arranging loans for the sovereign. In 1565, he was named treasurer and master of the mint by the Prince-Elector. In this way, although Lippold enjoyed an influential and lucrative position of power, he was viewed as an extortionist by the public, while the Prince-Elector profited the most. When the sovereign suddenly died in 1571, Lippold was immediately arrested on speculation of foul play, but the charges were quickly dropped. Yet the opportunity to dispose of Lippold and incite a renewed anti-Jewish pogrom proved irresistible to the heavily indebted court, and a new trial against Lippold was personally opened by the sovereign's successor. In this new trial, which was thoroughly biased from the start, Lippold confessed following gruesome torture to the possession of a spell book and the poisoning of Joachim II. Obviously Lippold had very good reasons not to kill his own protector. Nevertheless,

Photographed by James Hulse, March 7, 2026

3. Profit & Pogrom Marker

The markers are located in a small green space next to the Poststraße.

despite witnesses and testimony in his defence, Lippold was disembowelled, drawn and quartered in 1573, to the cheers of a blood-thirsty public. A pogrom ensued, and the Jews were once again expelled from Brandenburg.

Contemporary depiction of the execution of Lippold ben Judel Chluchim

Erected by Nikolai Viertel 1237. (Marker Number 9.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1540.

Location. 52° 30.967′ N, 13° 24.444′ E. Marker is in Berlin, in Mitte. It is in Berliner Innenstadt. It is on Poststraße just south of Nikolaikirchpl., on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Poststraße 4/5, Berlin 10178, Germany. Touch for directions.

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,

the former East Germany,

and at the Berlin Wall.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ephraims Mobilie / Ephraim’s Movable Palace

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(here, next to this marker); Ephraim-Palais / Ephraim Palace (a few steps from this marker); Geschäftshaus / Commercial Building (a few steps from this marker); Riesen & Wunder (within shouting distance of this marker); Museum für Leibesübungen / Museum of Physical Exercise (within shouting distance of this marker); Knoblauchhaus & Schuberthaus / Knoblauch House & Schubert House (within shouting distance of this marker); Knoblauchhaus / Knoblauch House (within shouting distance of this marker); Eisernes Preußen & Tapfere Müller / Iron Prussia & Brave Müller (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.

Additional keywords. Anti-Semitism

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 9, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.