Linnich
General information: First Jewish presence: 1348; peak Jewish population: 149 in 1887; Jewish population in 1933: 124
Summary: Jews in Linnich conducted prayer services in a building at
12, Rurdorfer Strasse until the early 20th century. In Linnich,
a Jewish private school and a Jewish elementary school were
established in 1804 and 1878, respectively.
In 1913, the community built an Art Nouveau
synagogue—the building also housed a schoolroom, a
mikveh, offices and a women’s balcony—on Nordpromenade;
the inauguration ceremony was attended by city council
officials and high-ranking representatives of other faiths.
On Pogrom Night, SA men and local residents from
Linnich and Juedlich set the synagogue on fire, destroying
the building and its contents (including a precious Chair of
Elijah). The Jewish cemetery was desecrated that night, and
homes and shops were demolished.
Jewish residents were forcibly moved into the “Villa
Ruth,” where they were kept until their deportation. At least
49 Linnich Jews perished in the Shoah.
A mohel’s book from the synagogue—it survived Pogrom
Night—is now on display at the Jewish Museum of Frankfurt.
A memorial plaque was unveiled in Linnich in 1988.
Author / Sources: Ruth Martina Trucks
Sources: EJL, LJG, SG-NRW
Sources: EJL, LJG, SG-NRW
Located in: north-rhine-westphalia