History of the Jews in East Germany
Encyclopedia
The Jewish community of East Germany, a Communist state
, numbered only a few hundred active members. Most Jews who settled in the German Democratic Republic did so either because their pre-1933 homes had been in eastern Germany or because they had been politically leftist before the Nazi seizure of power and, after 1945, wished to build an antifascist, socialist Germany.
. The Soviet authorities preferred to reintegrate survivors into their countries origin; therefore, they did not allow the building of Displaced Persons camps in East Germany. It was even reported that 600 Jews had been arrested by Soviet authorities in December 1945 when they entered the Soviet sector of Berlin. Soviet troops were ordered to evacuate Polish Jews who temporarily lived in two camps in the Soviet Occupation Zone and to close these camps in January 1946. In 1945 Jewish communities were established in several eastern German cities. There were 53 members of the Jewish community in Chemnitz
, 70 in Dresden, 200 in Leipzig
and several dozen in Magdeburg
. A community of 150 Jews followed in Erfurt
in 1946, one with 50 members in Halle
in January 1947, and one with 74 members in Schwerin
in 1948. In addition, a small community existed in Zwickau
for a few years. When the German Democratic Republic was founded in October 1949, it had 1250 Jewish citizens in eight communities of Brandenburg (68), Chemnitz (49), Dresden (188), Halle (95), Leipzig (338), Magdeburg (167), Schwerin (81), and Thuringia (264)- among them only 124 people under the age of 18. At that time, about 2,500 Jews lived in East Berlin.
Communist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
, numbered only a few hundred active members. Most Jews who settled in the German Democratic Republic did so either because their pre-1933 homes had been in eastern Germany or because they had been politically leftist before the Nazi seizure of power and, after 1945, wished to build an antifascist, socialist Germany.
History
At the end of 1946, the Jewish population in the Soviet occupation zone was estimated at only 1,200-1,500 people, and an additional 2,442 Jews lived in East BerlinEast Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
. The Soviet authorities preferred to reintegrate survivors into their countries origin; therefore, they did not allow the building of Displaced Persons camps in East Germany. It was even reported that 600 Jews had been arrested by Soviet authorities in December 1945 when they entered the Soviet sector of Berlin. Soviet troops were ordered to evacuate Polish Jews who temporarily lived in two camps in the Soviet Occupation Zone and to close these camps in January 1946. In 1945 Jewish communities were established in several eastern German cities. There were 53 members of the Jewish community in Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
, 70 in Dresden, 200 in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and several dozen in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
. A community of 150 Jews followed in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
in 1946, one with 50 members in Halle
Halle
Halle is a noun that means hall in the German language. It may also refer to:-In Germany:* Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, official name Halle , also called Halle or Halle an der Saale...
in January 1947, and one with 74 members in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
in 1948. In addition, a small community existed in Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
for a few years. When the German Democratic Republic was founded in October 1949, it had 1250 Jewish citizens in eight communities of Brandenburg (68), Chemnitz (49), Dresden (188), Halle (95), Leipzig (338), Magdeburg (167), Schwerin (81), and Thuringia (264)- among them only 124 people under the age of 18. At that time, about 2,500 Jews lived in East Berlin.
See also
- List of German Jews
- YekkeYekkeThe term Yekke is a generally jovial, mildly derogatory term primarily used by Jews to refer to their coreligionists from Germany or who adhere to the Western-European minhag....
- Ashkenazi JewsAshkenazi JewsAshkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
- The HolocaustThe HolocaustThe Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
- Germany-Israel relationsGermany-Israel relationsGermany-Israel relations refers to the special relationship between Israel and Germany based on shared beliefs, Western values and a combination of historical perspectives...
- HaGalil OnlineHaGalil OnlineHaGalil is an online magazine published in German relating to the issues of Judaism, German Jewry and Israel. HaGalil is considered as the most widespread magazine of its kind in German, with over 380,000 monthly visitors . The magazine was established by David Gall in 1995, and is since then...
- an online magazine of Jews in German-speaking countries