Gerolzhofen in Schweinfurt, Bavaria, Germany — Central Europe
The Decline of the Jewish Community of Gerolzhofen from January 30, 1933
Niedergang der Jüdische Gemeinde Gerolzhofen ab 30. Januar 1933
Urkundlich nachweisbar genehmigte im Jahr 1425 Fürstbischof Johann II v. Brunn die Ansässigmachung von Juden in Gerolzhofen. Viele jüdische Mitbürger engagierten sich im öffentlichen Leben und genossen Vertrauen und Anerkennung bei Ihren Mitbürgern. Nach ca. 500 Jahren horte die jüdische Gemeinde von Gerolzhofen auf zu existieren.
The first known mention of the presence of Jews in Gerolzhofen is the residential permission granted to them by Prince Bishop Johann II von Brunn in 1425. Many Jewish citizens engaged in public life and enjoyed the trust and recognition of their fellow citizens. After approximately 500 years, the Jewish Community of Gerolzhofen ceased to exist.
Erected 2007 by City of Gerolzhofen.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Notable Events • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1425.
Location. 49° 53.985′ N, 10° 21.142′ E. Marker is in Gerolzhofen, Bayern (Bavaria), in Schweinfurt. Marker is at the intersection of Schuhstrasse and Steingrabenstrasse, on the left when traveling west on Schuhstrasse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gerolzhofen BY 97447, Germany. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Former Adminstrative Building (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Schallfelder Tor / Schallfeld Gate (about 120 meters away); Spital Gate (about 120 meters away); Dingolshäuser Gate (about 150 meters away); Prison Tower (about 150 meters away); Fachwerkhaus Teutsch / Teutsch Building (about 150 meters away); The Beadle’s Tower (about 150 meters away); Bürgerspital / Municipal Hospital (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gerolzhofen.
Regarding The Decline of the Jewish Community of Gerolzhofen from January 30, 1933.
• Although the marker indicates 1425 as the first known documentary mention of Jews in Gerolzhofen, Allemania-Judaica.de notes several other earlier mentions.
• The Machtergreifung, or "seizure of power" mentioned on the timeline, occurred on January 30, 1933, and began the conversion of Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship. Some have noted that the term itself is somewhat deficient, as it obscures both popular support and the ostensible legality of what is now also termed a "transfer of power". (Machtübernahme).
• Nürnberger Rassengesetze, the Nuremberg Race Laws (mentioned on the timeline), were a set of statutes classifying Jewishness according to a person's grandparents. Defining "Jewishness" made possible the execution of the discriminatory laws that the Nazis had enacted to deprive Jews of their rights.
• Pogromnacht (mentioned in the timeline), also commonly known as Kristallnacht or "Night of Broken Glass" was the series of violent coordinated actions taken by the Nazis on November 9-10, 1938 against the Jews in Germany and Austria. Over 1,000 synagogues were burned, homes and businesses were ransacked, and more than 90 Jews were killed, and additional 30,000 were arrested and taken into custody. In Gerolzhofen, about 40 Nazis ransacked the synagogue, taking the contents to the nearby sports field to burn.
• The lower left of the marker indicates that the sources of its contents were provided by Dr. Stephan Oetterman of the Gerolzhofen City Archives, Martin Frey, Jesko Graf zu Dohna, and Michael Pfrang. It was created in 2006 by Evamarie Bräuer and commissioned by the City of Gerolzhofen.
Also see . . .
1. Image of Marker. Alemannia-Judaica.de provides a pdf version of the marker, making it much easier to read than the photos provided here. (Submitted on August 31, 2012.)
2. Alemannia-judaica.de''s entry for Gerolzhofen (in German). An extensive collection of text and links relating to the history of Jews in Gerolzhofen. Includes numerous synopses of contemporaneous newpaper articles depicting Jewish life in Gerolzhofen during the 19th and 20th century. At the bottom of the page a short English-language summary is provided, reading: Gerolzhofen Lower Franconia. Jews were victims of the Rindfleisch massacres of 1298. The modern community dates from the first half of the 17th century, with a cemetery consecrated in 1639 serving seven other communities as well. A new synagogue was built in 1874. The Jewish population reached a peak of 148 in 1900 (total 2,163) and numbered 125 in 1933. On Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938), Jews were beaten and arrested and their homes wrecked along with the synagogue. In 1933-41, 61 Jews emigrated from Germany, 39 of them to the United States. Another 35 left for other German cities. On 25 April 1942, 19 Jews were deported to Izbica near Lublin via Wuerzburg; another six were sent to the Theresienstadt ghetto in September. (Submitted on September 1, 2012.)
Additional keywords. genocide, holocaust
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 923 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 30, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 6. submitted on September 1, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 7. submitted on August 31, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.