Kitzingen, Germany

An organized Jewish community existed in the mid-12th century under the auspices of the rabbi of Wuerzburg. It suffered grievously over the next two centuries: 11 Jews were tortured and killed in a blood libel in 1242, 15 were murdered in the Rindfleisch massacres of 1298. Many were again slaughtered in the Armleder massacres of 1336-39 and the community was totally destroyed in the Black Death persecutions of 1348-49. Jews resettled in the late 14th century under letters of protection and were fairly prosperous but lived under the constant threat of expulsion. In 1771, Jews were attacked in food riots and in 1789 they were expelled, only resettling in the 1830s and 1840s and forming an officially recognized community in 1864. The Jewish population rose to 478 (total 9,113) in 1910. Jews dominated the very important wine industry, with 69 wine merchants in 1908. In 1933, Jews numbered 360, augmented by newcomers in the Nazi era. The prevailing atmosphere of tolerance in previous years soon gave way to persecution, as Jews were isolated economically and socially. On “Kristallnacht” (9-10 Nov. 1938), the synagogue was partially burned. Jewish homes were wrecked, and 23 Jewish men were sent to the Dachau concentration camp. Large numbers left in 1938-39. In all, 192 Jews emigrated, including 84 to the U.S. and 52 to Palestine, and 111 left for other German cities. Of those remaining in 1942, 76 were deported to lzbica in the Lublin district (Poland) on 24 April and 19 to the Theresienstadt ghetto on 23 Sept 1942.