Baden Baden, Germany

Jews were already visiting the local mineral springs in the 17th century, but permanent residence was only permitted in 1862 after the emancipation of Baden Jews. The community grew rapidly to 156 in 1895 and 435 in 1925 (total 25,692). A splendid synagogue was completed in 1898 and a cemetery was consecrated in 1921. The national convention of Agudat Israel was held in Baden-Baden in 1921 and most of the Jewish organizations in Germany had offices there. Anti-Semitism intensified after WWI, often driving away Jewish vacationers and reducing the Jewish population to 260 in 1933. In 1937 health facilities and public parks were closed to the Jews. The Zionist Organization engaged in widespread activity throughout this period. Sixty-five Jews left Baden-Baden between 1933-38, including 27 to Western Europe. On “Kristallnacht” (9-10 November 1938), around 80 Jewish men were arrested. Most were then sent to the Dachau concentration camp after being beaten. The synagogue was burned and Jewish stores and homes were pillaged. In all, 154 Jews left the city by 1942. Of these, 46 were later trapped and deported, as were the 114 sent to the Gurs concentration camp in southern France directly from the city on 22 October 1940. The community was reestablished after the war and numbered 53 in 1976.