November pogroms of 1938 in Fürth in Bayern

Riots against Jews during the pogrom on 9/10 November 1938 in Fürth; burning down of the main synagogue and the caretaker's house. On 9 November 1938, the customary NSDAP funeral service to commemorate the march on the Feldherrnhalle took place in the Fürth municipal theatre, attended by members of the NSDAP and its branches. During the night, the NSDAP district leader and mayor of Fürth heard rumours of the actions against the Jews and informed the head of the fire brigade that the synagogue, orphanage and other buildings belonging to the Jewish community were being burnt down and that the fire brigade was only allowed to prevent the fire from spreading. He replied that his professional fire brigade consisted of only 11 men. 150 SA men led by the SA-Obergruppenführer and leader of the SA group Franken went to the main synagogue in Fürth. Some SA men dragged the Jewish lawyer Neuburger over and tried to break down the door of the synagogue with his head. Neuburger only escaped further torture thanks to the discovery of the key. SA men forced their way into the synagogue. One SA man smashed the altar. Prayer scrolls were taken from their containers and set alight. The synagogue was vandalised and set on fire. Some of the perpetrators, including the NSDAP district leader, watched the fire. The fire brigade was not notified until around 3.30 a.m. The head of the fire brigade had the fire fought, but on the orders of the SA he cancelled the firefighting operation, so that the synagogue burned down completely. The NSDAP district leader of Fürth then ordered the head of the fire brigade to burn down the Jewish caretaker's house on Mohrenstraße, where there was also a prayer room. He then carried out the order by pouring out petrol. The extinguishing work was forbidden again by the SA.