Lüneburg, Germany

Lüneburg, Hanover, Germany A Jewish community existed in the 13th century, but it was destroyed in the Black Death persecutions of 1348-49. Although individual Jews lived in Lüneburg. in the 15th and 16th centuries, a Jewish settlement only began to develop in 1680. Until the beginning of the 19th century, no more than five Jewish families were allowed to live in Lüneburg. Following the abolition of this restriction, the Jewish population grew to 127 in 1871, peaking at 175 in 1905. The community established a cemetery in 1823 and a synagogue in 1894. During the 1890s and the Weimar years, antisemitic campaigns and incidents were a common occurrence. The synagogue was repeatedly vandalized. In 1933, there were 114 Jews in Lüneburg. Under Nazi pressure, many left, mostly to Hamburg and Berlin. Some emigrated to other countries. By 1937, only five families remained. The synagogue, which had been sold in late October 1938, was being demolished at the time of Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938). Those Jews who did not emigrate in time were deported during the war years, except for two Jews who were married to non-Jews. Altogether 42 Jews from Lüneburg perished under Nazi rule. A Displaced Persons community existed in Lüneburg for several years after 1945.