Gunzenhausen

Summary: Jews were persecuted in Gunzenhausen during anti-Jewish rioting in the 13th and 14th centuries. Although some Jews were expelled from the town during the 16th century—we know for a fact that a synagogue existed there in 1583—a community was eventually re-established there. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Gunzenhausen was home to the rabbinate of the Ansbach principality. Accordingly, the community had great influence on Ansbach Jewry. The modern community established a Jewish elementary school in 1827, a cemetery in 1875, a new synagogue (at Buehringerstrasse) in 1883 and a new school building and community center the following year. Gunzenhausen’s schoolteachers also served as ritual slaughterers and cantors. In 1928, the synagogue’s windows were smashed; one year later, the cemetery was desecrated. Nevertheless, the synagogue and mikveh were renovated in 1932. In 1933, 17 pupils attended the school, and the community ran a number of Jewish associations and branches of nation-wide Jewish organizations. An especially brutal pogrom, involving more than 1,000 townspeople, occurred in March 1934: Two Jews died, others were arrested and tortured and a Jewish-owned café was wrecked. The mob leader never served his prison sentence and, in July, murdered a Jew who had testified against him. In November 1938, the synagogue was sold to the municipality. On Pogrom Night, the building was partly damaged; its interior and most of the ritual objects were destroyed. Jewish homes were looted that night. In 1939, the synagogue was converted into a market. During the Nazi period, 52 Gunzenhausen Jews emigrated, 116 relocated within Germany and 11 died in the town; seven were deported to Dachau in late November and December of 1938. By January 1939, no Jews remained in Gunzenhausen. At least 84 local Jews perished in the Shoah. Memorial plaques were later unveiled at the cemetery.

Author / Sources: Heike Zaun Goshen
Sources: AH, EJL, PK BAV
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