November pogroms of 1938 in Barchfeld

Riots against Jews during the pogrom on 8/9 November 1938 in Barchfeld. Arrest of the Jewish men on the orders of the NSDAP local group leader and deportation to Schmalkalden, from where the victims were taken by lorry to Buchenwald concentration camp. Destruction of the synagogue in Barchfeld. On the evening of 8.11.38, an NSDAP rally was held in the Gasthaus zur Sonne. Afterwards, the SA was ordered to the Schmalz party pub. There they received instructions for the pogrom from the deputy district leader from Schmalkalden. One perpetrator organised the individual squads for the arrests, as well as for the tram transport of the Jews to Schmalkalden and the destruction of the synagogue. Two days before 8 November 1938, another perpetrator was informed by the district leader that he should appear before him to determine measures for the destruction of the synagogue in Bearchfeld. The district leader instructed him and his SA men to smash the windows of a Jewish merchant and a labourer who was married to a Jewish woman. He refused and was reprimanded. However, he took part in organising the thugs. On 9 November, he inspected the destruction of the synagogue and the Jewish houses.