Amstetten, Austria

Amstetten lower Austria, Austria. Although a Jewish cemetery was opened in 1859, Jews were allowed to settle in Amstetten only in 1865. A community was established in 1881. A few years later a small synagogue was inaugurated and in 1894 a new cemetery was consecrated. Jews were engaged in trade and owned small factories. The Jewish population stood at 45 in 1900, rising to 200 in 1934. During the 1920s anti-Semitic agitation was intense in Amstetten, although not violent. After the Anschluss (13 March 1938), Jews with Czechoslovakian citizenship were expelled over the border. On Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938), the interior of the synagogue was destroyed, windows of Jewish houses were smashed, and some men were arrested. Most of the Jews succeeded in emigrating. In May 1940, the remaining 53 Jews were sent to Vienna and from there to the east.