|
|
Deportation Assembly Points.
Von-Melle-Park. (Green area between No. 1 Allende-Platz and No. 48 Grindelallee).
Today, the green area between No. 1 Allende-Platz and No. 48 Grindelallee where
No. 2, No. 6, and No. 4 Beneckestraße once stood.
A memorial plaque on the side of the the building No. 1 Allende-Platz, housing the
Dispatch and Duplication Department (ZVV), adjacent to the green area, reads:
Hier standen ab 1895 die Gebäude Beneckestraße 2, 4 und 6.
Sie gehörten ab 1928 der Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde.
In ihnen waren im Laufe der Jahre u.a. untergebracht:
- die Beratungsstelle für jüdische Wirtschaftshilfe,
- die Verwaltung des Judischen Religionsverbandes
und des Bezirks Nordwestdeutschland der Reichs-
vereinigung der Juden in Deutschland,
- die Bibliothek und Lesehalle der Gemeinde,
- verschiedene jüdische Jugendvereinigungen,
- das jüdische Alters- und Pflegeheim.
In diesen Einrichtungen wirkten u.a.:
DR. LEO LIPPMANN (1881-1943),
DR. MAX PLAUT (1901-1974) und
DR. WALTER RUDOLPHI (1880-1944).
Ab 1942 mußten diese Häuser auch als sog. Judenhäuser
und ein Jahr später als Deportations-Stätten dienen.
1943 deportierte die Gestapo in 7 Transporten mehr als
400 Menschen nach Auschwitz und Theresienstadt.
Alle Gebäude wurden danach durch Bomben zerstört.
Gedenket der Menschen, die hier arbeitetet, lebten,
litten und die der "Endlösung" zum Opfer fielen!
Zum 50. Jahrestag der Transporte jüdischer Menschen
gestiftet von betroffenen und besorgte Bürgern.
- 1. Former No. 2 Beneckestraße.
- Former Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland (Relief Organization of Jews in Germany).
- Simultaneously, Committee of the Welfare Department of the Jewish Community.
- Simultaneously, Youth Welfare Department of the Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde (German Israelite Community).
- Simultaneously, Advice Bureau of the Jewish Economic Assistance.
- Simultaneously, Language and Commercial Courses for Emigrants.
- Later, Administration Office of the Jüdischen Religionsverband Hamburg (Jewish Religious Federation).
- Simultaneously, Clothing Store of the Jüdischen Religionsverband (Jewish Religious Federation).
- Simultaneously, "Judenhaus" ("Jewish Building").
- Later, North-West German District Office of the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany).
- Simultaneously, Deportation Assembly Building for 7 deportation transports in 1943.
In 1895, I. H. A. Schulz built a semi-detached four-storey residential building at
No. 2 Beneckestraße and a single four-storey house, with an attic storey at No. 6
Beneckestraße. In 1895 the community of heirs of I. H. A. Schulz built a three-storey
building and the Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue), No. 4 Beneckestraße,
to the rear of No. 2 and No. 6 Beneckestraße. The architects were Schepps and
Rzekonski. A three metre wide passageway between No. 2 and No. 6 Beneckestraße led
to No. 4 Beneckestraße at the rear.
In 1897, No. 2 Beneckestraße housed 5 tenants, in 1901, 13 tenants, and in 1908,
18 tenants.
Between 1907 and 1919 the buildings No. 2, No. 6 and No. 4 belonged to various private owners. In
1928, the Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue) owned all these buildings but from
1928 on the Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde (German Israelite Community) was the owner.
Beneckestraße, Building Plan, 1894:
No. 2, semi-detached building, No. 6, single building,
No. 4, rear building and Neue Dammtor-Synagoge.
From the year 1937/38, No. 2 Beneckestraße housed the following:
- Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland e.V. (Relief Organization of Jews in Germany).
- Wallichs Klaus (Synagogue).
- Verein zur Förderung ritueller Speisehäuser e.V. Hamburg (Society for the Promotion of Ritual
Restaurants).
- Jüdischer Central-Verein e.V., Landesverband Norddeutschland und Ortsgruppe Hansestadt Hamburg
(Jewish Central Organization, North German Regional Organization and Hansa City Local Branch).
- Kommission für das Wohlfahrtswesen (Committee of the Welfare Department of the Jewish Community).
- Jugendamt der Gemeinde (Büro) (Office of the Youth Welfare Department of the German Israelite
Community)
- Beratungsstelle für jüdische Wirtschaftshilfe (Advice Bureau of the Jewish Economic Assistance).
- Sprach- und Handelskurse für Auswanderer (Language and Commercial Courses for Emigrants).
- Israelitisches Vorschuß-Institut, Abteilung Darlehnskasse (Israelite Credit Institute, Loans
Department).
- Neue Dammtor-Synagoge, Büro des Kultusverbandes (Office of the New Dammtor Synagogue).
From 1938 on the building additionally housed the following:
- Jüdische Winterhilfe (Jewish Charity for relieving hardship during the winter).
- Jüdische Religionsverband, Verwaltung (Administration Office of the Jewish Religious Federation).
- Bezirksstelle Nordwestdeutschland der Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (North-west German
District Office of the Reich Organization of Jews in Germany).
- "Judenhaus" ("Jewish Building").
- Deportations-Stätte für die Transporte von 1943 (Deportation Assembly Building for the deportation
transports of 1943).
- Kleiderkammer des Jüdischen Religionsverbandes (Clothing Depot of the Jewish Religious Federation).
No. 2 Beneckestraße, Building Plan, Front View, 1894.
The purpose of the Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland e.V., formerly the Hilfsverein der
deutschen Juden, (Relief Organization of Jews in Germany) was the promotion of the intellectual, moral
and economic development of Jews, as well as emigrant assistance.
On 1.01.1935, the Hamburg organization had a membership of 270.
The following figures show the number of Jews that emigrated from Hamburg in 1936:
1. European Countries:
| Country | Emigants
|
| England | 75
| | Russia | 1
| | Austria | 36
| | Czechoslovakia | 36
| | Balkan Counties | 6
| | Spain and Portugal | 13
| | Italy | 27
| | France | 19
| | Belgium | 48
| | The Netherlands | 77
| | Luxemburg | 1
| | Poland | 15
| | Scandinavia | 49
| | Other countries | 40
|
2. The Americas:
| Country | Emigants
|
| USA, Canada | 131
| | Central America | 5
| | South America | 91
|
3. Asia:
| Country | Emigants
|
| Palestine | 184
| | Other Countries | 2
|
4. Africa:
| Country | Emigants
|
| British Colonies | 74
| | Other Countries | 1
|
5. Australia:
| Country | Emigants
|
| Australia | 4
|
6. Other Countries:
| Country | Emigants
|
| Other Countries | 108
|
Of a total of 1,043 emigrants from Hamburg in 1936, 443, i.e. 43%, emigrated to
other european countries, 227, i.e. 22%, to the Americas, and 186, i.e.
18%, to Asia.
It is worth noting that only 184 individuals emigrated to Palestine. The reason for this was
that emigration to Palestine dropped off sharply in the second half of 1936 and because Hamburg,
being a port, had especially strong family and business connections abroad.
Between 1933-1938 the Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland e.V. (Relief Organization of Jews
in Germany) supported around 26,000 emigrants. In 1937 it gave advice to over 100,000
individuals.
Apart from information and support the advisory office also helped many individuals emigrating via
Hamburg. It was a fortunate circumstance that there was a personal union between the Relief Organization
and the Daniel-Wormser-Haus, situated in the Altstadt district of Hamburg: Max M. Warburg
was chairman of the committee of the Relief Organization and patron of the Daniel Wormser House, and
Henry Chassel was head of the Hamburg branch of the Relief Organization and head of the Daniel
Wormser House.
No. 2 Beneckestraße (right) and No. 6 Beneckestraße (left),
with the narrow passage between.
The Kommission für das Wohlfahrtswesen (Committee of the Welfare Department of the Jewish
Community) held its meetings at No. 2 Beneckestraße from 1935 onward. Its main tasks
were carried out here. The central office of the 16 regional social work offices (1937) was here.
The Jugendamt der Gemeinde (Büro), (Office of the Youth Welfare Department of the
German Israelite Community) was at No. 2 Beneckestraße from 1935 onward.
The following were staff of the Youth Welfare Department, for part of or for the entire period between
1929 and 1937:
Alfred Levy, chairman (1929/30 - 1933/34), Dr. Ernst Loewenberg, chairman (1934/35 -
1937/38), Gertrud Benzian, Raphael Plaut, Sidonie Werner, Dr. Tilly Zuntz,
Benno Offenburg, Elisabeth Mirabeau, Dr. Alfred Unna,
Dr. Eduard Guckenheimer, Jenny Baer, and Henny Kahn.
Nurse Thekla Picard, youth worker, and Fritz Abraham, youth social worker, were
employed for the entire period between 1929 and 1937.
The Beratungsstelle für jüdische Wirtschaftshilfe (Advice Bureau of the Jewish Economic
Assistance) also
had its office at No. 2 Beneckestraße.
Rudolf Samson was chairman until 1938, and Dr. Eduard Guckenheimer, former
public prosecutor, was director from 1934 onward.
The following were members of the administration:
Henry Chassel, Dr. Ludwig Freudenthal, Dr. Ernst Loewenberg, Dr. Max Plaut
and Dr. S. Urias.
The bureau's field of work comprised:
financial assistance, emigration, vocational training and initial vocational training.
In 1937 the Advice Bureau organized the following training courses:
Rudolf Samson, lawyer, was, for years, chairman of the Jüdischen Kulturbund (Jewish
Cultural Federation), chairman of the administration advisory committee of the Jüdischen
Gemeinschaftshaus (Jewish Community Building), and chairman of the Jüdischen
Central-Verein (Jewish Central Organization), formerly Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger
jüdischen Glaubens (Central Organization of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith).
When the Jewish Community appointed Samson chairman of the Advice Bureau he did not
foresee the burden and responsibility that was to be conferred on him.
"He was always there, where practical help was required (...) and everyone felt that a warm heart
beat beneath his taciture, often embarrassed, reserved nature."
When he suddenly died it was said that his finest quality was his charm, the kindness and
friendliness, with which he approached and persuaded people.
Up until the beginning of 1938, a total of 800 youths received vocational training.
In 1938, 200 youths were in training.
Up until the end of 1937, around 5,000 Jews emigrated from Hamburg. At the end of
1938 until the outbreak of war in 1939, emigration from Hamburg was considerably greater than in
previous years. This was true of Germany as a whole: 4,819 individuals emigrated from
Germany in 1937, over 8,647 in 1938, and 23,954 in 1939.
Rudolf Samson.
No. 2 Beneckestraße was also the last Administration Office of the Jüdischen
Religionsverband Hamburg (Jewish Religious Federation) after the building at
No. 38 Rothenbaumchausee had to be sold following the Pogrom Night of 9/10 November 1938.
In this connection the committee of representatives was dissolved and a new board
appointed. This was subordinate to the supervision of the Gestapo, that also assumed an extensive
supervision of the entire Jewish community. The Gestapo sought to guarantee their control by
appointing the former syndic of the Jüdische Religiondverband (Jewish Religious Federation),
Max Plaut, director of the Religious Federation, and to the board of all Jewish
organizations, being personally accountable to the Gestapo.
Of the former board of the Jewish Community only Dr. Leo Lippmann and John Hausmann
remained. The rest had emigrated. Hausmann emigrated in 1941. John Hausmann, member of the
board since 1935/36, had rendered outstanding service to the community principally as head of the
department of property management.
John Hausmann.
In accordance with a Reich-wide regulation dated 4.08.1939 a new constitution was
also stipulated for the Hamburg Jewish Community. This constitution brought the
authoritarian principle into force. The committee of representatives and all committees
remained dissolved. There were no longer any regular board meetings. Each board member
was the accountable head of his area of responsibility.
The new constitution demanded a new board. Initially, it comprised: Dr. Max Plaut, chairman,
Dr. Leo Lippmann, vice-chairman, John Hausmann, Dr. Walter Rudolphi and
Arthur Spier. The first meeting of this new board took place at No. 2 Beneckestraße
on 23.10.1939. Prior to this, and later, board meetings took place at No. 17 Mittelweg.
When Arthur Spier emigrated, Robert Solmitz assumed his position, until he himself
emigrated.
Jüdischer Religionsverband, Organization Chart, 1.04.1941.
Finally, the independence of the Jüdische Religiondverband (Jewish Religious Federation)
could no longer be maintained. The Jewish community was so depleted by the emigration between 1933
and 1941 and the deportations from 1941 onward that it was necessary for it to be incorporated
into the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany).
This organization was founded in accordance with the "10. Verordnung zum Reichsbürgergesetz" ("10.
regulation of the Reich Citizenship Act") of 4.07.1939.
All "Jews" (as defined by the Nuremberg decrees) living in the Reich became compulsory members. The
"Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" was a registered society with its office in Berlin.
The local branches of the "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" replaced the local Jewish
religious associations.
The organizations had the goal of promoting the forced emigration. It was also responsible for
Jewish education and social welfare.
The "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" was subordinate to the Reichsinnenminister (Reich
Home Secretary. He had the power to disband Jewish societies, organizations and charitable foundations,
or to order their incorporation within the "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland".
The incorporation took place administratively on 1.08.1942 and legally on 21.11.1942.
The Hamburg area was administered through the North-west German District Office of the Reich
Organization of Jews in Germany, which had its office at No. 2 Beneckestraße. This district
office was also responsible for Braunschweig, Bremen, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Hannover provinces,
excluding Osnabrück, and Schleswig-Holstein, including Lübeck.
Dr. Max Plaut was director, and Dr. Leo Lippmann was vice-director of the district office.
They were the only remaining members of the board of the former Jüdische Religiondverband
(Jewish Religious Federation).
Dr. Walter Rudolphi was deported to Theresienstadt on 15.07.1942, and
Dr. Leo Lippmann, in the face of his impending deportation, was driven to commit suicide,
with his wife, on 11.06.1943.
Dr. Max Plaut was thereby the only remaining board member.
Dr. Leo Lippmann's conference room, No. 2 Beneckestraße.
It is not surprising that, having fulfilled such a function, people judged Dr. Plaut differently:
In 1941 the Jewish Community concluded:
"His great abilities, his inborn gift of correctly
dealing with people, his ever calm, even temperament and his commitment were supportive to his work".
Dr. Plaut rendered outstanding services to the Jewish community. He also helped numerous individual
Jews in desperate straits.
In 1975, a former female employee of the Jewish community gave the following opinion of
Dr. Plaut:
"He was for many years under fire from both the Gestapo and Jewish community members. He was the buffer
between the two fronts. Being the first to be informed by the Gestapo of operations, deportation
transports, and arrests he had to transmit this news to those affected. He received orders from the
Gestapo and had to carry them out."
When he reported daily to Gestapo chief Claus Göttsche we never knew whether he would return or not.
He had to deliver the bad news which was reflected on him. Even the rare cases where he was able to
help were played off against him. However, this female employee knew of no one who would have freely
assumed his position. Heavily burdened by pressure from both sides he always presented a calm
equanimity.
Dr. Max Plaut, 1938, (1901-1974).
Göttsche had promised to allow Dr. Plaut and his mother to emigrate to Palestine. Following seven
months imprisonment in a concentration camp Dr. Plaut reached Palestine in October 1944.
He left Palestine before the declaration of independence of the State of Israel in 1948. He attempted
to settle in Munich and Hamburg, before finally settling in Bremen, where he became
vice-chairman of the Jewish community. He died in Hamburg in 1974.
Following the four deportation transports in 1941 only 4,051 Jews, as defined by the
"Nuremberg Laws", remained in Hamburg. Of these 4,051, 1,290 lived, or had lived, in a
"Mischehe" ("racially mixed-marriage"). On 31.12.1942, only 1,805 Jews remained
in Hamburg. Of these 1,805, 230 lived in "nicht privilegierten Mischehen"
("non-privileged mixed-marriage") and 911 in "privilegierten Mischehen"
("privileged mixed-marriage"). 121 had previously lived in a "privilegierten Mischehen",
now dissolved.
On 31.12.1940, 7,088 Glaubensjuden (religious Jews) and 897
"Rassenjuden" (non-religious Jews) remained in Hamburg.
In 1933, around 20,000 and in 1925 around 24,000 religious Jews lived in
the Hansestadt Hamburg (Hansa Town Hamburg).
The term Hansestadt Hamburg came into force on 1.04.1938 following the
"Gesetzes über Groß-Hamburg und andere
Gebietsbereinigen" ("acts relating to Greater Hamburg and other areas").
The Prussian municipalities i.e. the city boroughs of Altona, Wandsbek, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, and numerous
rural communities, the city of Hamburg and its constituent state communities were incorporated. The
incorporation of the former Prussian municipalities had already taken place on 1.04.1937.
Of the circa 20,000 religious Jews living in the Hansa Town Hamburg in 1933 around 17,000 lived
in Hamburg, around 2,000 lived in Altona, around 200 in Wandsbek
and around 200 in Harburg.
In 1933, Jews made up around 1·4% of the total population of Hamburg, around
3·8% of the population of Berlin, and around 4·7% of the population of Frankfurt.
The implementation of the deportation transports in 1941 and 1942 created
additional work for the employees of the Jüdischen Religionsverband (Jewish Religious Federation).
Significantly, the work in connection with the Zentralkartei (central card index) was carried out
by Arthur Ballin's office.
Employees of the Jewish Religious Federation were not exempted from the deportation transports.
In July 1942 a total of 95 employees and 12 charity workers of the Jüdischen
Religionsverband (Jewish Religious Federation), as well as 7 employees of the district office
of the Reich Organization of Jews in Germany were deported.
Among those deported were:
Martha Samson, Ida Hagenow, Dr. Bertold Simonsohn and Lotte Mathilde Mansfeldt.
Jüdischer Religionsverband employees:
Standing, left to right: Fanny David, Dr. Albert Oppenheimer, Dr. Ludwig Loeffler,
Lotte Mansfeldt née Posner, Jakob Seligmann.
Sitting: Ida Hagenow.
On 31.12.1942 there were still 67 employees, 29 men and 38 women, employed in the
Hamburg administative office of the North-West German District Office of the Reichsvereinigung
der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany). On 1.01.1942 the
corresponding figures were 158 and 10.
Later, No. 2 Beneckestraße was designated a "Judenhaus" (Jewish Building) by the Gestapo, as
were other buildings administered by the Jüdischen Religionsverband (Jewish Religious
Federation). Whereas practically all Jews who had to wear the yellow Star of David had to move into
the other "Judenhäuse" by 1.04.1942, No. 2 Beneckestraße did not assume this function
until 1.09.1942. From then on No. 2 and No. 4 Beneckestraße had to accommodate
all Jews, including foreign Jews and those wearing the yellow Star of David but excluding
the infirm, Jews living in "Mischehen" (racially mixed-marriages), and Jews with special authorization.
The building at No. 2 Beneckestraße which had exclusively housed offices of the Jewish Religious
Federation was now entirely turned into living accommodation except for the ground floor and
another half storey.
A total of 80 Jews had to move into No. 2 and No. 4 Beneckestraße.
Regular religious services were held on weekdays, with the help of mixed couples, in one of the
halls of No. 2 Beneckestraße until the end of March 1943. In 1942/43 a mikveh, i.e.
a pool used especially by women for ritual purification after their monthly period, was constructed at
No. 2 Beneckestraße on the initiative of Daivid S. Goldschmidt. This demonstrated great
courage. It had to be constructed after dark. The necessary material was acquired with
black market money.
Literature:
Ernst Loewenberg: Aus der Arbeit der Hamburger Jüdischen Gemeinde nach 1933, in: Fremd in der
eigenen Stadt. Erinnerungen jüdischer Emigranten aus Hamburg, Hrs. Charlotte Ueckert-Hilbert.
- 2. Former No. 6 Beneckestraße.
- Former Bibliothek und Lesehalle der Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde, later Jüdischen
Religionsverbandes (Library and Reading Room of the German Israelite Community, later Jewish
Religious Federation).
- Simultaneously, Einrichtungen bzw. Vereinigungen für jüdische Jungendliche
(Jewish Youth Organizations).
- Later, Altersheim der Bezirksstelle Nordwestdeutschland (North-West German District Office
Old People's Home).
- Later, Pflegeheim der Bezirksstelle Nordwestdeutschland (North-West German District Office
Nursing Home.
- Simultaneously, Deportation Assembly Building for 7 deportation transports in 1943.
In 1897 the building at No. 6 Beneckestraße had 4 tenants, in 1907, 7 tenants,
and in 1933, 10 tenants, as well as accommodating community institutions such as the
Library and Reading Room on the groundfloor.
In 1937/38, the Jewish Community building at No. 6 Beneckestraße housed the following:
- Bibliothek der Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde (Library of the German Israelite Community).
- Hechaluz Hamburg, Galil Nordwest.
- Beth Chaluz.
- Habonim Noar Chaluzi.
- Haschomer Hazair.
- Verein selständiger jüdischer Handwerker und Gewerbetreibender zu Groß-Hamburg von 1906 e.V.
(Registered Society of Independent Jewish Craftsmen and Shop Keepers of Greater Hamburg, founded
1906).
- Kommission für die Fremdenpflege (Committee for Assistance to Foreigners).
In 1938 the building accommodated the following additional institutions and functions:
- Schwesternheim des Israelitischen Krankenhauses (Nurses' Home of the Israelite Hospital).
- Jüdisches Alters- und Pflegeheim (Jewish Old People's Home and Nursing Home).
- "Judenhaus" ("Jewish Building").
- Deportation Assembly Building for the deportation transports in 1943.
In 1937/38, the Community Library had around 40,000 books, and 40
newspapers and periodicals. Use of the library was free. The library was open every
morning, and from Monday to Friday between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Dr. Fritz M. Warburg was chairman of the library board. Dr. Isaak Markon was librarian
from 1929, and Else Menken was his assistant.
It was especially gratifying that pupils of the Jewish schools, the youth of the Hachschara (Jewish
organization for the preparation and vocational training of young people for a life of physical
labour in Palestine), and the various association members made use of the library. On 327
days in 1937, 18,375 readers registered in the Reading Room of the Library (an average
of 57 per day). On the 276 library loan days 9,996 books were borrowed (an
average of 36 books per day).
The library moved here in April 1931. The premises were seen as being suitable and conveniently
situated. The library gradually developed into the intellectual focus of the community. The
library was used by people of all ages and walks of life.
The Verein "Jüdische Bibliothek und Lesehalle" (Jewish Library and Reading Room Society) was
founded on 24.11.1909. The library and reading room was opened on 1.04.1910 at
No. 4 Bieberstraße. In the first years Marcus Beith was the librarian and then from
around 1921 onward Max Deutschländer.
The library and reading room was closed between June 1921 and 1.12.1922 as
No. 4 Bieberstraße had to be evacuated.
The founding of the University of Hamburg in 1919 made a good Jewish library all the more
necessary.
On 1.12.1922 the Library and Reading Room was finally reopened at No. 2 Bornstraße,
the home of the Agudas Jisroel Jugendgruppe Hamburg/Altona (Israel Federation Youth Group
Hamburg/Altona). A contract with the youth group stipulated that two rooms were to be rented
for the purpose of a library. In February 1923 the Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde (German
Israelite Community) resolved to take over the library and reading room.
The renamed Bibliothek und Lesehalle der Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde (Library and Reading
Room of the German Israelite Community) had the purpose of allowing all Jews in Hamburg
to acquaint themselves with Jewish literature and with questions concerning Judaism.
At the beginning of 1929 the community library and reading room was moved to
No. 54 Johnsallee and Dr. Isaak Markon became librarian. Professor Dr. Markon was born
in Russia in 1875 and had previously worked at the universities of St. Petersburg, Moscow and Minsk,
as well as in Berlin at the Rabbi Seminary. He was particularly involved in the collaboration and
publication of the Jüdischen Enzyklopädie or Jüdischen Lexikon (Jewish Encyclopedia).
Dr. Markon significantly expanded the library and reading room. He managed to acquire the deceased
Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Anton Nobel's library of around 5,000 books at a reasonable price.
When the library and reading room moved to No. 6 Beneckestraße it had a stock of
18,000 books. In 1938 Dr. Markon emigrated to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Dr. Nehemia Anton Nobel (1871-1922).
No. 6 Beneckestraße also accommodated the following Jewish youth organizations:
- Beth Chaluz ("House of Pioneers") (Chaluz = term for young people who emigrated to Palestine
after the First World War. The basic idea was the renewal of life through physical labour). The
organization was accommodated on the third floor between 1932 and 1937.
- Hechaluz Hamburg, Galil Nordwest (Hechaluz = "Pioneer", term for a national Jewish organization
for the preparation and vocational training of young people for a life of physical labour in Palestine
(also known as Hachschara). The organization was accommodated here between 1935 and 1937.
In 1935/36 Benjamin Pardo was chairman, and in 1937/38 Juda Marcus was chairman.
- Habonim Noar Chaluzi (Habonim = "builders", term for a zionist organization). The organization
held its meetings here between 1935 and 1937. In 1935/36 Schimon Reich was head of
this youth organization and in 1936/37 and 1937/38 he was joint head with Friedel Nußbaum.
- Haschomer Hazair = ("young watchman"), term for a Zionist organization founded in 1931. This
organization met here between 1936 and 1937. In 1936/38 Willi Hauser was head of the
orgainization.
A Gathering of a Zionist Youth Group in the Chaluzheim, No. 6 Beneckestraße, 1932.
Following the deportations in July 1942, No. 6 Beneckestraße also accommodated
infirm people. No. 6 Beneckestraße accommodated the majority of infirm, followed by
No. 37 Laufgraben and Nos. 25/27 and No. 29 Schäferkampsallee.
On 9.09.1942, No. 6 Beneckestraße accommodated 96 infirm people and 9
employees. There were places for 109 individuals.
Prior to the deportation transports in July 1942, No. 6 Beneckestraße, together with
Nos. 25/27 Schäferkampsallee, became the Alterheim der Bezirksstelle Nordwestdeutschland
der Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Old People's Home of the North-west German District
Office of the Reich Organization of Jews in Germany).
The majority of old people living in these homes were also deported.
At the end of 1942 there were only 78 elderly people and 6 employees in
the Old People's Home at No. 6 Beneckestraße.
In October 1942, 13 infirm people died from a serious intestinal illness.
- 3. Former No. 4 Beneckestraße (Residential Building).
- Former Residential Building (to the rear of No. 2 Beneckestraße).
- Later, "Judenhaus" ("Jewish Building").
- Later, Teaching Institute for Jewish Children (post 30.06.1942).
- Simultaneously, Deportation Assembly Building for 7 deportation transports in 1943.
No. 4 Beneckestraße, Rear Building, Building Plan Front View, 1894.
The residential building at No.4 Beneckestraße was situated to the rear of
No. 2 Beneckestraße. In 1897 there were 5 tenants, in 1908, 7 tenants, and
in 1928, 9 tenants.
In 1928 the sexton A. Knefel lived on the groundfloor, and in 1941 the sexton
S. Levisohn.
Jakob Katzenstein was one of the few non-German Jews still remaining in Hamburg in
1943. He was a Danish citizen and teacher at the Tamud Tora School from 1906-1942,
and a member of the school board.
Jakob Katzenstein with his daughters Eva and Rahel (seated), 1939.
Katzenstein lived in Rutschbahn until July 1942 when he moved to No. 15 Dillstraße to
Alfred Heymann. Heymann's daughter was Dr. Max Plaut's secretary. Later he and the Heymanns
moved to No. 4 Beneckestraße.
Katzenstein gave private tuition in his flat to Jewish children despite the prohibition.
The "(Reichs-)Erlaß des Reichsministers für Erziehung und Unterricht über den Schulbesuch jüdischer
Kinder" ("Decree of the Reich Minister of Education concerning the school attendance of "Jewish"
children") of 15.11.1938, which enacted the exclusion of all "Jewish" children from attending
German schools.
"Each morning I conversed for one or two hours with the remaining two Hammerschlag girls and
the two Rumanian Jewish Rosner children about all manner of things. We looked at picture books from the
Talmud Tora School and I could not avoid clarifying grammatical and analytical problems."
In 1971 Dr. Max Plaut related that it was to Katzenstein's merit that he orgainized these
lessons. Plaut was of the opinion that the Jews of Hamburg owed him much gratitude.
Katzenstein also taught various other Jewish children and children who were unknown to him.
He was able to emigrate to Copenhagen on 30.03.1943 having waited five months for
the necessary permit. He then escaped to Sweden on 1.10.1943, with the other
remaining Danish Jews.
Numerous Jews were deported from No. 4 Beneckestraße as well as No. 6 Beneckestraße.
No. 2 Beneckestraße did not appear in the deportation transport lists at this time
as it had not been cleared for residential use.
Later, Katzenstein related that for the sake of simplicity there were no individual
orders given to Jews living in Jewish housing trusts or other community buildings
on the deportation transports in July 1942. There was simply a notice put up on the house
entrance. The inhabitants of No. 4 and No. 6 Beneckestraße were deported to
Auschwitz on 11.07.1942 and to Theresienstadt on 15.07.1942 and 19.07.1942.
Katzenstein added that the Jews on the deportation transport on 19.07.1942 were allowed
to return home or to the synagogue following the "muster" on the Sabbath, and had to report
to the Volksschule Schanzenstraße (Schanzenstraße School) on Sunday at 8 a.m.
The following deportees are representative of those deported from No. 4 and
No. 6 Beneckestraße:
Deportation Transport on 11.07.1942 destination Auschwitz:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Brandenstein, Max | 19.03.1874 | Hofgeismar
| Dentist | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Levisohn, Arnold | 23.06.1926 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Levisohn, Manfred | 21.04.1925 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 15.07.1942 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Hildesheim, Martha | 8.05.1872 | Glasgow
| Teacher | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Josephs, Claus | 21.01.1925 | Oldenurg
| Apprentice Farmer | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Josephs, Siegfried | 5.11.1885 | Jever
| Reichsvereinigung Employee | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Levinson, Therese née Israel | 22.01.1865 | Hamburg
| Teacher | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Müller, Rita | 1.12.1929 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Peltesohn, Dr. Nathanel | 22.12.1862 | Posen
| Oculist | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Toczek, Arthur | 22.11.1908 | Hindenburg
| Teacher | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Toczek, Nelly | 15.01.1909 | Oehls
| Craft Teacher | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Toczek, Nora Noemi | 28.07.1938 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Toczek, Reha | 16.04.1942 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Weinheim, Helene | 27.10.1873 | Hamburg
| Teacher | No. 6 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 19.07.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Norden, Margarethe née Offsijowitz | 14.02.1917
| Insterburg
| Nurse | No. 4 Beneckestraße
|
Finally, Nos. 4, 2 and 6 Beneckestraße were not only "Judenhäuser
("Jewish Buildings") but also simultaneously deportation assembly buildings for the
7 deportation transports in 1943. A total of 413 individuals were
deported on these 7 transports of whom 347 were murdered. From what
Dr. L. L., a survivor of the last of the seven transports, i.e. on 23.06.1943,
related in spring 1983, it is certain that all seven transports in 1943 started from the
buildings in Beneckestraße.
The following deportees are representative of those deported on the seven transports in 1943:
Deportation Transport on 12.02.1943 destination Auschwitz:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Schickler, Fanny | 20.08.1913 | Hamburg
| Laboratory Technician. | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Starke, Irene Antoinette | 14.02.1937 | Hamburg
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 24.02.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Czapla, Bruno | 24.01.1922 | Hamburg
| Seaman | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Feilmann, Marianne née Falkenstein | 29.09.1897
| Hamburg
| Dietary Assistant | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Ganser, Carla Caroline | 15.09.1927 | Hamburg
| | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Mayer, Egon | 13.10.1923 | Braunschweig
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Schilling, Herbert Andr. | 23.07.1924 | Hamburg
| Seaman | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Schüppenhauer, Hermann | 7.03.1925 | Hamburg
| Driver's Mate | No. 2 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 10.03.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Michel, Ella | 19.09.1920 | Westhofen
| Nurse | No. 29 Schäferkampsallee
|
Deportation Transport on 24.03.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Simon, Sara née Goldschmidt | 15.07.1884
| Friedrichstadt
| Nurse | No. 6 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 5.05.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Böhm, Hans Gerold | 19.09.1932 | Breslau
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Pinkowitz, Charlotte | 4.07.1991 | Emden
| Nurse | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Wolff, Gisela | 3.01.1926 | Hannover
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 9.06.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Baier, Heinz Wolfgang | 1.05.1922
| Pforzheim, Bomlitz/Lüneburg
| | No. 37 Walsrodestraße
|
Deportation Transport on 23.06.1943 destination Theresienstadt:
| Name | Date of Birth
| Place of Birth | Occupation | Address
|
| Baer, Jeannette | 24.12.1903 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Ballin, Edwin Arthur | 23.04.1882 | Hamburg
| | No. 6 Beneckestraße
| | Benscher, Fritz | 13.11.1904 | Hamburg
| | No. 43 Försterweg
| | Blumenthal, Berl | 6.11.1941 | Hamburg
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | David, Fanny | 2.12.1892 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Goldschmidt, Erna | 9.09.1902 | Altona
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Goldschmidt, Käthe | 27.09.1905 | Altona
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Gottschalk, Ernst | 24.04.1928 | Emden
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Gottschalk, Karola | 14.07.1933 | Emden
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Hammerschlag, Ellen | 28.10.1929 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Hammerschlag, Inge | 9.06.1933 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Heymann, Thea | 29.10.1908 | Hamburg
| | No. 4 Beneckestraße
| | Jankelowitz, Lina née Meyer | 6.04.1993
| Hamburg
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Korach, Dr. med. Siegfied | 30.06.1855 | Posen
| | No. 1 Hartungstraße
| | Lazarus, Samuel | 30.10.1887 | Stapelmoor
| | No. 43 Förstenweg
| | Meyer, Käthe | 21.06.1889 | Hamburg
| | No. 2 Beneckestraße
| | Zancker, Irma née David | 25.06.1901 | Altona
| | No. 6 Beneckestraße
|
Käthe Starke née Goldschmidt, a survivor of the transport to Theresienstadt
on 19.07.1943 writes in her book "Der Führer schenkt den Juden eine Stadt, ...":
"Claus Göttsche, head of the Jewish Department of the Gestapo Regional Headquarters Hamburg,
and his staff, gave us a farewell escort in a more unofficial manner than was customary.
There was no whirring of film cameras, no photographic cameras slung round necks taking
private pictures of pretty female assistants, of distressing scenes on the railway platform,
or of dying old people lying on stretchers. In comparison to former transports there was
nothing happening that day. It was a small deportation transport of only 180 souls.
However, this small deportation transport carried off the last employees of the
Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany)
and the last Jews. The staff of the Gestapo Jewish Department saw their area of
operations at home disappear and ther likelihood of being sent to the front draw nearer.
This is what softened their behaviour.
The less officious behaviour was already perceptible at the completion of formalities. We
were able to spend the last night in our own beds and not assembled
and kept under lock and key a day prior to departure as was previously the case (...)
(...) We were placed under house arrest on 11.06.1943. This meant that we were
confined to the Beneckestraße buildings. (...) The remaining offices of the
Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany)
were situated on the groundfloor of No. 2 Beneckestraße which were likewise closed
and sealed on 11.06.1943, after being thoroughly searched.
An unusual conciliatory atmosphere prevailed during registration for the
deportation transport list. There were no beatings, no loud commands and no one had
their head held under the water tap. The two attractive Gestapo secretaries gingerly returned
our Judenkennkarten (Jewish identity card) in which they had stamped that the holder
was "evacuated" that day, and ticked us off their list. In this way we were struck from the
book of the living and, contrary to prior custom, allowed to return to our rooms to spend
the remaining time their. We used this reprieve to write brief letters containing distress
signals to friends abroad which read: Today I am transferring my domicile to the protectorate
Theresienstadt.
While we were writing our letters we received a visit from our guards, led by Herr Behn. Behn,
who had attempted to kiss the horrified Jeannette Baer, in her room, was the "dignified"
representative of the Oberfinanzpräsident (Director of the Finance Department). He
momentarily awaited our departure before sealing the doors. The inventary of belongings was
devolved upon him and was later auctioned "volantarily by order of the owner".
(...)
Claus Göttsche (1899-1945), standing right, in a group of police officers, 1930.
Our journey, from which no one was meant to return, began at the isolated goods depot,
i.e. the Hannöverschen Railway Station, which had been the scene of so many previous
deportation transports of Jews from Hamburg. It began on a fine, bright summer day unusual
for Hamburg. The sun lit up the dull red paint of the goods waggons in a warm light.
The clear air mercilessly presented the scene of our bedridden ill, eldest and non-moveable
being carried over the empty platform to the waggons that had been fitted out as makeshift
couchette waggons. Washed as clean as corpses and cared for a last time they disappeared
behind the sliding doors of the waggons, (...)
"Mummy, where are all those people travelling to?"
"To the country." (Caricature).
The Gestapo men bid farewell to their two colleagues who were to be our escort.
Dr. Plaut stood alone, near us, (...) He was givng away the last of his staff:
Fanny David and Irma Zancker, Jeannette Baer and Thea Heymann,
Erna Goldschmidt, Fritz Benscher and Sami Lazarus. His expression was
indescribable as he wished us well and sent greetings to those who had travelled before us.
Would they be there for us to greet? (...)
The waggon doors were pushed shut. The deportation transport was ready to depart. We
realized that we were under way. (...)
I do not recall the first night and neither do the five other survivors of my
waggon. Exhausted, we must have slept the entire night. As black bread was passed in and
shared out the sun appeared bright in the sky. Thereafter the waggon doors remained
slightly ajar allowing the soft summer air to pass through the waggon during the journey.
The train had to stop frequently and for long periods. Eventually, we reached Dresden
(...)
One night of captivity. We youngsters stretched ourselves out on the soft luggage on the
rack or between the polished boots of the elderly. The elderly people sat erect,
with swollen legs, on their narrow seats and uncomplaining drew in their painful feet when
one of us stretched out in our half sleep. No observer could have suspected that terrified
human beings squatted inside these few goods waggons awaiting another engine.
The train continued its journey. In the lethargic light that entered through the covered
ventilation slit I wondered about our destination. We had very little information.
(...) We were not alone in seeking to discover more about our destination. Göttsche had
also wished
to see where his Jews were being transported. For his own information he had accompanied
the deportation transport on 9.06.1943, but returned without success. It became known
later that he was requested to leave the train at Bauschowitz, and given a ticket
to Prague. (...) His subordinates were cleverer, (...) they walked from
Bauschowitz. Gestapo officer Walter Wohlers told me this as he supervised the
clearance of the Clothes Depot at No. 2 Beneckestraße. (...) Shortly
thereafter the train halted. We were there - we were in Theresienstadt."
The Clothes Depot of the Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde (German Israelite Community)
continued to exist at No 2 Beneckestraße almost until the last moment. It was
established and run by Benno Hirschfeld (1879-1945). Hirschfeld was arrested, with
others, in May 1943, and taken to the so-called Fuhlsbüttel Police Prison and
from there deported to Auschwitz and later to Buchenwald where he was shot.
Benno Hirschfeld (1879-1945).
After July 1943 the last office of the
Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Organization of Jews in Germany)
was situated at No. 22 Bornstraße.
Literature:
Käthe Starke: Der Führer schenkt den Juden eine Stadt: Bilder, Impressionen, Reportagen,
Dokumente, Haude und Spener, Berlin, 1975
- 4. Former No. 4 Beneckestraße (New Dammtor Synagogue).
- Former Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue) of the Garantors of the Synagogue.
- Later, Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue) of the Society of the same name.
- Later, Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue) of the Religious Organization.
- Later, an "allgemeines Bethaus" des Jüdischen Religionsverbandes für orthodox Gottesdienste
("common synagogue" of the Jewish Religious Federation for orthodox religious services).
- Later, Beneckestraße Synagogue (also for liberal religious services).
The Rotherbaum district, section, 1905 with the "Neue Synag." Neue Dammtor-Synagoge
in Beneckestraße and "Synag." Synagoge vor dem Dammtor in Bieberstraße.
The Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue), a conservative religious association, was
built by the architects Schlepps and Rzekonski, and officially inaugerated on 15.08.1895.
The synagogue goes back to one in a house in Jungfernstieg opened by Dr. Joseph Isaacsohn of
the "Newe Schalaum" (place of peace) on 9.09.1879. This synagogue had places for 180 men and
90 women. It had to be closed in 1887 as the fire regulations could not be adhered to.
As, in the last decades of the nineteenth-century, more and more Jews settled vor dem Dammtor
it became necessary to establish a larger synagogue.
(Tor = gate, Dammtor: a term for the gate that formerly stood where todays railway bridge crosses
Dammtordamm. The area north-west of Dammtor was referred to as "vor dem Dammtor", vor = in front of).
The Synagoge-Verband (Synagogue Society) made several attempts to establish a new synagogue here.
In 1892 a general appeal brought several men together who formed a "committee for the
establishment of the new Dammthor-Synagoge" under the leadership of Moritz Stavenhagen.
The signatories to this appeal were:
Hermann Bonheim, Gustav Delbanco, Leopold Durlacher, S Frank, Moritz Rosenblum, Ph. Winter
and Moritz Stavenhagen.
At the first meeting in 1893 a committee was elected to undertake the
establishment of a synagogue "with a respectful religious service and in accordance with the
requirements of the present day". It was fortunate that the community of heirs of I. H. A. Schulz
agreed to build a synagogue, at their cost, on their land in Beneckestraße. All that was required
was a guarantee of a ten year lease on the synagogue. There was no problem finding guarantors for the
lease of the building and money for the furnishings. The synagogue had places for 500 people.
The statutes of the synagogue stipulated that the religious services were to be held according to
orthodox ritual, but with the omission of the Pijutim, i.e. prayers added to the
service on the sabbath and during festivals in orthodox ritual. No musical instrument was to be used
but a good four-part choir was to be employed. A particular emphasis was placed upon
absolute silence during services. It was also desired that a good cantor and preacher
be acquired.
In the founding years the Synagogue Society made several attempts to join the synagogue. These
negotiations were unsucessful as the Synagogue Society set unacceptable conditions regarding the
order of prayers and the structural arrangement of the synagogue. Finally, the Synagogue Society,
that had attempted to avoid the building of another synagogue in the same district, had to build the
Synagoge am Bornplatz (Bornplatz Synagogue).
Also, later negotiations with the Tempel-Verband (Temple Society), a liberal religious
association,
led to nothing. The New Dammtor Synagogue finally remained independent because it adhered to the
wishes of its founder: to hold respectful religious services without being long-draw-out but
also without reforms.
Neue Dammtor-Synagoge (New Dammtor Synagogue) facing north-east.
The New Dammtor Synagogue was also a synagogue built in a courtyard to the rear of buildings fronting
the street. In addition it was almost entirely built-in on all four sides. The architects only had the
possibility of constructing a kind of façade on the north side of the building. The
vestibule was reached through a narrow corridor from which two doors led to the
male preserve. The almemar, i.e. the raised platform on which the reading desk stands,
was not situated precisely in the east, as in orthodox custom.
Neue Dammtor-Synagoge, shrine, almemor, and women's gallery.
A colourfully glazed dome spanned the room which was bordered on three sides by the women's
gallery. The circa 30 cm high grill of the women's gallery contrasted with the completely
closed women's gallery of orthodox synagogues. The interior was in the Moorish or
oriental style. The horseshoe-shaped canopy of the shrine and the copious ornament
were examples of this style. This was the first synagogue in Hamburg to display this style
externally: horseshoe-arches framed the side doors and an oriental style dome towered
above the entrance of the building. The dome itself was ringed by four smaller domed towers.
The colourful brick pattern also gave the building an oriental character.
As the lease of the New Dammtor Synagogue expired in 1905 the guarators instructed the board
to transact a new lease with the owners of the property.
On 28.03.1912 the "Neue Dammtor-Synagoge zu Hamburg" Society was registered in the official
register of societies and associations at the Hamburg County Court.
The purpose of the society was to maintain and cultivate the Jewish religion, to hold Jewish religious
services, and to establish the requisit synagogues for Jews living in Hamburg and its environs.
Adult Jewish men who rented a place in the synagogue through a contract with the board were designated
active members. Jewish men and women regardless of whether they were of age could be
passive members. Adult Jewish women could also rent a place in the synagogue but
"nevertheless" remained passive members. All adult members, including adult passive members, were
entitled to give their sons a Bar Mitzvah, i.e. the ceremony of a Jewish boy having
assumed full religious obligations, being at least 13 years of age, and have their daughters
confirmed. This took place in the spring.
The society was administered by a board, an administrative committee, a committee of representatives,
and a general meeting. The board, which was empowered to represent the society legally and
generally, was made up of 3 members. The administrative committee, which managed the
business of the society, was made up of 7 members, 3 of whom constituted the board.
Members whose children, being minors, practiced another faith, or whose sons had not
been circumcised, or who themselves had entered into a mixed marriage could not be members of the
administrative committee. The committee of representatives, which was constituted to participate
in the internal administration, was made up of 11 members. Members of this committee were
elected for a period of 3 years by active society members above the age of 31. The
general meeting was a meeting of active members of the society.
Members of the first administrative committee were: Wolf Peine, chairman, Martin
Fränkel, Meyer Seehoff, secretary, Eduard Bleier, Georg Rothenberg, treasurer, Rudolf
Levy and Philip Goldschmidt.
The first rabbi of the New Dammtor Synagogue, from 1895 to 1903, was Dr. Max Grunwald.
He then held office in various synagogues in Vienna, and was able to emigrate to his son in Jerusalem
in 1938. Dr. Grunwald was also an historian, in particular a folklorist.
He wrote the history of the Jewish communities in which he worked.
Regarding Hamburg he published:
"Hamburgs deutsche Juden bis 1811" (1904), and
"Portugiesengräber auf deutscher Erde" (1902).
Dr. Grunwald was the first Präsident der Gesselschaft für jüdische Volkskunde (President of the
Society of Jewish Folklore), which was founded in Hamburg in 1898. In the same year he created a
Museum für jüdische Volkskunde (Museum of Jewish Folklore). He later allowed his exhibits
to be loaned by the Hamburg Museum für Völkerkunde (Museum of Ethnology).
Dr. Max Grunwald (1871-1953).
Dr. Abraham Löwenthal (1868-1928) succeeded Dr. Grunwald as rabbi of the New Dammtor Synagogue.
He held the post from 1903 to 1917. He then held office in Berlin until his death in 1928.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the New Dammtor Synagogue both
Dr. Max Grunwald and Dr. Abraham Löwenthal returned to Hamburg to be honoured by Martin Fränkel
who had been chairman of the board during their periods of office. He thanked Dr. Grunwald for his
devoted work. Every community member remembered him with pleasure. Dr. Löwenthal considered it
important to acquire friends both inside and outside the community. He succeeded in this with his
conciliatory manner and understanding that he also had for other religious thought.
Dr. Abraham Löwenthal (1868-1928).
When Dr. Löwenthal moved to Berlin in 1917 an arrangement was made with the
Israelitische Tempel-Verband (Israelite Temple Association), i.e. the liberal religious society,
that their rabbis should serve in the New Dammtor Synagogue, in the manner prescribed by the
latter. Members of the New Dammtor Synagogue were to volantarily transfer 10% of the community
tax to the Temple Association. The two rabbis were to be paid for their services in the
New Dammtor Synagogue from this money. However, as a money transfer to the Temple Association could
only be made by their own members this meant that the members of the New Dammtor Synagogue
simultaneously acquired membership of the Temple Association without involving additional monetary
commitments. From 1917 onward the two preachers of the Israelite Temple Association
(the Israelite Temple Association used the title preacher instead of rabbi), Dr. David Leimdörfer
and Dr. Jacob Sonderling also served in the New Dammtor Synagogue. Dr. Sonderling held his post
in the (Second) Temple in Poolstraße in the Neustadt district of Hamburg from 1908 onward. He
was army rabbi during the First World War and after the war described the horror. He emigrated
to the USA in 1921. A synagogue attender later related that the sermons of both preachers were
well structured and were masterpieces of oratory. Many members of the Synagogue Society also attended
the New Dammtor Synagogue to experience these sermons.
Dr. Jacob Sonderling.
The preachers of the Temple Association also held the so-called girls' confirmation in the
New Dammtor Synagogue. The girls, clothed in white with a floral head decoration, were led onto the
almemar where they read a verse from a section of the Torah. In addition they held a short talk
giving an explanation of Jewish ethics and law. Finally, the rabbi gave his confirmation sermon.
Following the death of Dr. Leimdörfer (1851-1922) the New Dammtor Synagogue again elected a rabbi.
Dr. Paul Holzer (1892-1961) served from 1923 to 1938. Dr. Holzer, with his wife Grete,
were particularly committed to youth work. Dr. Holzer, from 1937 onward, also gave spiritual
welfare to Jewish prisoners awaiting trial and those serving prison sentences. Dr.
Holzer and his wife emigrated to England in 1938. After the war Dr. Holzer once again served
as rabbi, from 1946 to 1954, in Hamburg.
Dr. Paul Holzer (1892-1961).
The difficult negotiations for recognition of the New Dammtor Synagogue as a
religious organization
took place during Dr. Holzer's initial years of office. Prior to this the
Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde
(German Israelite Community) only recognised the Synagoge-Verband and Tempel-Verband.
The New Dammtor Synagogue initially applied to be recognised as a new, independent religious
organization in 1910. They indicated that they had 341 community tax paying members and that a
total of 300 such members were sufficient. On 22.01.1923 the New Dammtor Synagogue
had a membership of 430 male members and again requested recognition by the Jewish community.
The Temple Association had no objections to recognizing the New Dammtor Synagogue. The Jewish community
opposed this reqest with the wish that the New Dammtor Synagogue combine with the
orthodox Synagoge-Verband. This proposal was unanimously rejected by the New Dammtor Synagogue.
The Jewish community then suggested that negotiations take place between the rabbis of the two
synagogues. Chief-Rabbi Dr. Samuel Spitzer of the Synagogue Association refused to enter
the New Dammtor Synagogue with its current ritual. The Pijutim were omitted which the
Schulchan Aruch (Jewish law and ritual) did not allow. On 14.01.1924 the
New Dammtor Synagogue finally announced that they could not accept the result of the negotiations
between the two rabbis and regarded the unification negotiotions as having failed.
On 5.02.1924 the Synagogue Association pointed out that throughout Germany there were not
more than 2 Jewish religious lines of thought. Only a conservative and a liberal
wing were recognized. The harm already inflicted upon Judaism by fragmentation would intensify
"immeasurably" if further factions were allowed. Finally, on 28.03.1924 the Jewish community
recognised the New Dammtor Synagogue as a religious organization with, however, qualifications.
The Synagogue Association demanded a so-called safety contract with the Jewish community
and an amendment to their statutes, and the appointment of a court of arbitration.
Neue Dammtor-Synagoge, women's gallery, 1927.
A fundamental renovation and extension of the New Dammtor Synagogue was long overdue. This took place
in 1927. Instead of abiding by the resolved renovation work the men responsible for the
supervision of the work decided on a complete conversion. By the time the administration
realized what had taken place it was too late to intervene. The final cost was six times
as high as initially approved. The Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde assumed ownership of the
buildings in Beneckestraße in spring 1928 as the New Dammtor Synagogue was unable to pay for
the cost of the conversion. The New Dammtor Synagogue now had the obligation of maintaining the
synagogue and of allowing all Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde members to participate
in their religious services.
Neue Dammtor-Synagoge, interior looking south-east, with almemor, 1941.
Henry Chassel was chairman of the administrative committee from 1929 to
1937 and in accordance with the statutes also chairman of the board of the
New Dammtor Synagogue.
Jacob Valk junior was vice-chairman of the adiministrative committee between 1931 and 1932.
He was honorary chairman from 1937 onward.
Wilhelm van Cleef was chairman of the committee of representatives from 1929 to
1937.
Henry Chassel.
The New Dammtor Synagogue also had a religious school. This was located in the
Helene Lange-Oberrealschule between 1929 and 1932, and in the Jewish community
Girls' School, at No. 33 Johnsallee between 1933 and 1937, with a
branch at No. 5 Haynstraße, in the Eppendorf district, between 1934 and
1935. Rabbi Dr. Holzer was director and teacher of the religious school. The teachers
were Josef Heinemann, also Torah reader, Grete Holzer and Hermann Lieber,
also chief cantor.
On the night of the Reich-wide Pogrom Night of 9/10 November 1938 the Hamburger
Tageblatt newspaper reported that antisemitic demonstrations had also taken place in
Hamburg the day before. On the basis of a rumour that "additional" weapons were hidden in synagogues
demonstrators had "opened" several synagogues. These demonstrations also affected the
Beneckestraße Synagogue. The Beneckestraße Synagogue was not completely devastated
internally.
Brückheimer, in the Brückheimer Collection of the Yad Vashem Archives, relates: "Few were
involved". The Torah silver was seized but the Torah rolls were "hardly damaged". Nothing was
vandalized inside the buildings at No. 2 and No. 6 Beneckestraße.
Adolf Diament later in his stock-taking simply described the synagogue as having been
"vandalized".
The Beneckestraße Synagogue played an important role after the 1938 pogrom.
Dr. Plaut
relates that it was the only synagogue in the German Reich to be rebuilt after the
Pogrom Night of 9/10 November 1938. Dr. Plaut managed this with donations that he collected.
Religious services were held, which were later prohibited. The services were continued despite
the prohibition. Look-outs were posted and the services were never discovered or betrayed. Religious
services were held regularly every morning and evening until the
end of January 1944. But, on 19.10.1939 Gestapo Regional Headquarters Hamburg informed
the Hansestadt Hamburg that the Beneckestraße Synagogue at No. 4 Beneckestraße, and the
synagogue at No. 38 Marcusstraße, in the Neustadt district, that had not been destroyed
were still in use by Jews for the holding of religious services.
On the occasion of the inaugeration of the "common synagogue for our community", the
chief-rabbi of the Synagogue Association, Dr. Joseph Carlebach wrote to Dr. Plaut
on 17.02.1939 thanking him for the beautiful building he had presented
to the community. He wished to honour him with the crown of a "worthy name" and membership of the
Chawerim ("companion", an honorary title for a scholar).
From February 1939 the orthodox Chief-Rabbi Dr. Joseph Carlebach of the destroyed
Bornplatz Synagogue led orthodox religious services in the Beneckestraße Synagogue,
which would never have been possible previously. Prior to this the almemar was moved to the centre
and the womens' gallery was equipped with a grille. Even a mikveh was built in the cellar of
the synagogue. The Beneckestraße Synagogue was also the only synagogue in Hamburg in
which religious services were held up until 1943.
In the spring of 1939 the three Hamburg religious associations had to discontinue their
work. The Deutsch-Israelitische Gemeinde then assumed responsibility for the religious life
of the community. The Synagoge Association and New Dammtor Synagogue dissolved
themselves. The Temple Association technically continued to exist due to legal grounds
connected with the land registry office.
Neue Dammtor-Synagoge, circled, and Bornplatz-Synagoge, bottom right, aerial view 1938.
In 1941 the Gestapo informed the Reichsvertretung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich
Organization of Jews in Germany) that the funds of the Jewish religious communities were
no longer allowed to be employed for the maintenance of Jewish religious life. This included
the salaries paid to the rabbis, which could now only be met by voluntary donations.
When Chief-Rabbi Joseph Carlebach was deported to Riga on 6.12.1941,
Dr. Nathan Max Nathan succeeded him as syndic and spiritual leader of the Jewish community,
until his deportation to Theresienstadt on 19.07.1942.
Following the deportation of the liberal rabbi, Dr. Joseph Norden to Theresienstadt on
15.07.1942, liberal services in Hamburg only took place in adjoining rooms of the
Beneckestraße Synagogue at No. 4 Beneckestraße.
In January 1943, Dr. Leo Lippmann was confident that Jewish religious services
would continue in Hamburg, although in a restricted capacity. Cleary, in Hamburg, this was "tolerated"
by the Gestapo.
The Beneckestraße Synagogue and the other community buildings in Beneckestraße
were destoyed in an air-raid in July 1943.
Von-Melle-Park, green area between No. 1 Allende-Platz and No. 48 Grindelallee, 1986.
Today the place where the former Nos. 2, 6 and 4 Beneckestraße once stood is a green
area within the University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park campus, between No. 1 Allende-Platz and
No. 48 Grindelallee. Beneckestraße no longer exists.
Memorial Plaque for the former New Dammtor Synagogue.
A memorial stone and plaque adjacent to the pathway between No. 1 Allende-Platz and
No. 48 Grindelallee reads:
Am diesem Ort stand die Neue Dammtor-
Synagoge. Sie war die erste Synagogenbau
im Grindelviertel und wurde 1895 im Hof
der ehemahligen Beneckestraße 4 errichtet
und eingeweiht.
Rabbinner Dr. Max Grunwald amtierte hier
1895-1903. Ihm folgte bis 1917 Dr. Abraham
Löwenthal. Im Jahre 1923 übernahm
Dr. Paul Holzer das Amt des Rabbiners, der
1938 von den nationalsozialistischen Macht-
habern gezwungen wurde, Hamburg zu
verlassen.
Nach Schändung am 9. November 1938
konnte die Synagoge Anfang 1939 weiter
hergerichtet und genutzt wereden.
Im Juli 1943 wurde sie von der Geheimen
Staatspolizei (Gestapo) beschlagnahmt
und am 27. Juli 1943 durch Bomben zerstört.
German text: Dipl.-Pol. Wilhelm Mosel, Deutsch-Jüdische Gesellschaft, Hamburg.
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