Haigerloch, Germany

Jews are first mentioned in 1343 and were burned to death in the Black Death persecutions of 1348-49. They are again mentioned late in the 15th century, and by 1570 constituted a well-established settlement. From 1640 until 1837 they lived under various restrictive letters of protection issued by the Hohenzollerns. From 1780 they were not allowed to buy houses. The Jewish population grew to 382 in 1852 (about a quarter of the total). Jews sat on the municipal council. In 1933, the Jewish population was 186. On “Kristallnacht” (9-10 November 1938), the synagogue, community center, and school were damaged and ten Jews sent to the Dachau concentration camp. At least 53 Jews managed to emigrate from Germany; most of the others were deported to the east in 1941-42.