Memorial Destroyed Synagogue

On Synagogue Square, two elements point to the historic site. Embedded in the sidewalk is a plaque with the information: "The synagogue of the Nordhorn Jewish community stood on this site from 1814 until its destruction on November 10, 1938", accompanied by a reconstruction drawing of the synagogue (by Erich Begalke).

A memorial stone placed at this point by the Nordhorner "Stadtjugendring" in 1968 was lost a few years after the theft, but was put back after it was found.

For the Jewish community, the synagogue was a center of community life. The initial planning was made possible by the French rule. In 1871 the first church burned down completely and was replaced three years later by a new building in the immediate vicinity. During the pogrom night of 1938, SA men first destroyed the interior of the synagogue, then razed the building to the ground. The Jewish community even had to pay for the destruction of the center itself: 'demolition costs for the synagogue' and 'repair of the streetscape' were demanded.

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Source

• Text: Bjorn van Marle
• Photos: Bjorn van Marle