Niederstetten, Germany

The medieval Jewish settlement was destroyed in the Rindfleisch massacres of 1298. In the 17th century Jews were living in Niederstetten under a letter of protection. Despite various disabilities, they were able to expand their economic activities, primarily in cattle, wool, wine, and hides. The Jewish population grew to 215 in 1854 (total 1.701). A synagogue was dedicated in 1824 and a Jewish school founded in 1838. In the second half of the 19th century Jews owned some of the largest business establishments in the town. In the Weimar period Jews were active in public life but a strain of anti-Semitism also ran through the town. In 1933, 81 Jews remained, mostly leading a religious way of life. Persecution was severe from the outset of Nazi rule in 1933 and the last Jewish stores were closed after November 1938. Most of the young left; in all, 37 emigrated. Of the 42 deported – to the Riga ghetto on 1 December 1941 and to the Theresienstadt ghetto in September 1942 – three survived.