November pogroms of 1938 in Jever

Riots against Jews during the pogrom on 10 November 1938 in Jever; arson of the synagogue; arrests of Jews from Jever. Until 1933, around 150 Jews had lived in the town of Jever, which had a population of around 6000 to 7000; in January 1939, only around 50 Jews were still living in Jever. The synagogue - around 60-80 years old - was located in Wasserpfortstraße in Jever. At the back was an annex which served as a Jewish school. The annex was accessed via a narrow corridor between the synagogue and the neighbouring house. Rosa Grünberg, a Jewish woman who heard the perpetrators and shouted loudly, lived in the annex. The perpetrators inspected the front door of the synagogue and went to the annex. One perpetrator soaked rags in oil while the others searched for a way into the synagogue, tampering with the windows and doors. One of them smashed a windowpane with his elbow. Some perpetrators got in but got out again. One perpetrator continued to try to open the door. Suddenly the fire flared up and the perpetrators ran away. As the synagogue burned, Mrs Grünberg ran into the street. The synagogue was completely destroyed; the annex did not burn down. Towards the morning of 10 November 1938, arrest squads were on their way. SA leaders and SA men forced their way into the homes of Jews, arrested them and took valuables such as money, bank books, radios, typewriters and other items. Laundry, suits, furniture and other items were also taken and handed over to the NSV or party offices. Around 45 people were arrested during the pogrom night. Body searches were carried out in the Jever court prison. Those arrested had to hand over money and valuables. Women and older men were released in the course of 10 November 1938. On 11 November 1938, 25 Jewish men were taken by bus to Varel, where those arrested there boarded. From Varel, the bus travelled to Oldenburg. From there they were taken by special train to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. If they did not perish, they were released after several weeks of imprisonment. The Jew Weinthal and the Schwabe family were arrested at the railway station. Confiscations were made from the horse dealer Willi Josephs. Valuables, money, jewellery, old gold, securities, mortgage notes, bronze figurines, silver cutlery, furniture, preserves, food, linen, clothing and blankets were taken away. Everything was taken away by lorry; items belonging to the housekeeper, who was not Jewish, were also taken. Joseph's flat was completely plundered. Confiscations were also carried out at the Gröschler brothers' home. Mr Levy, who had fled to a stable, was also arrested. He was pushed back and forth during the arrest and threatened with a revolver. When he stopped in shock at the burning synagogue, he was pushed from behind. About six SA men took Levy to the court prison. The flats of the Jews Mrs Haas and Mr and Mrs Klüsener were also searched. In the evening, the Levy flat was raided again, one perpetrator took a gold men's watch and was also involved in the confiscation of the Levys' car. Some of the items were returned to the Levys damaged; none of the items taken in the evening were returned. The car was returned to them completely demolished. One of the perpetrators blocked off Wasserpfortstraße, where the synagogue was located, on the orders of the police district commander. He took part in the arrests without orders. His office had informed him that the SA was responsible for carrying out the arrests. Rosa Grünberg, who had escaped from the annex of the synagogue wearing only a shirt, was received by a perpetrator in the court prison with verbal abuse. Almost all the Jews in Jever were arrested and taken to the court prison, including elderly people. A total of 14 men and 26 women from Jever were imprisoned. Also arrested were the Jew Weinthal from Esens, who was travelling to Wilhelmshaven, and the Jewish butcher Cohn from Hooksiel. The Jewish women and the 81-year-old Jew Schwabe were released on the afternoon of 10 November 1938. 15 Jewish men remained imprisoned, including 13 men from Jever and the two foreign Jews mentioned above. They were handed over to the Gestapo by the police in Oldenburg on 11 November 1938 and taken to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. It was not possible to determine whether any of the Jews died in Sachsenhausen. Most of them were released before Christmas 1938, the others in January 1939. Jewish property was confiscated during the pogrom. (Money, securities, bank and savings books, jewellery, valuables, clothing, linen, furniture, typewriters). Laundry and clothing went to the NSV. Some of the valuables went to the tax office via the district office. Some of the assets were returned to the Jews. The further whereabouts of the items remained unclear. Inventories were not drawn up.