Dortmund Synagogue

"As the community grew, plans were made to build a new synagogue; a plot of land was purchased on Hiltropwall in the city center in the 1890s. The new synagogue, designed by architect Eduard von Fuerstenau, was inaugurated on June 6, 1900. The synagogue, which had a 40-meter high cupola; a room for weekday prayers on the ground floor with its own Torah Ark; a mikveh; a choir loft; an organ; and seating for 1,270 worshipers, cost 501,000 Marks to build. Its congregation was affiliated with the Jewish communities in Luetjendortmund and Mengede.... The official reason given for the demolition of the synagogue, which was described as a “shameful stain” on the city’s landscape, was the need to improve traffic flow. This excuse exempted the city council from paying the 1 million Reichsmarks it would have owed the Jewish community had the building been “aryanized.” Eventually, under the threat of violence, the community leadership opted, on September 19, 1938, to “voluntarily” sell the synagogue and its land; 135,000 Reichsmarks were to be paid for the plot; nothing for the synagogue building itself. After the city council approved the purchase, Dortmund’s district Nazi leader arranged for a crowd to gather outside the synagogue and destroy its interior, breaking the promise made to the community leaders that they would have eight days to remove ritual items from the building. Nevertheless, some Torah scrolls were reportedly rescued from the building and kept in the community’s offices. A Torah pointer also survived and was discovered in nearby Unna in 1987. After the sale was agreed, it was claimed that anti-Nazi materials had been found in the synagogue; as a consequence the purchase price was reduced. Even then, the state still deducted taxes from the amount; the Jewish community eventuallyreceived a pitiful sum. Demolition work began on October 3, 1938; the walls were dynamited on October 19. By December the site had been completely cleared. Reportedly, the remains of the synagogue were set on fire on Pogrom Night, November 9-10, 1938...In 1952, the community was awarded 800,000 Deutschmarks as compensation for the synagogue; the city council retained ownership of the site, which was renamed Platz der Alten Synagoge (“the old synagogue square”) and today is the forecourt of the city theater. A commemorative plaque was erected there in 1990."

Bronagh Bowerman

Copyright: Pogrom Night 1938 - A Memorial to the Destroyed Synagogues of Germany/ Germansynagogues.com

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