Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

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destruction of the Synagogen-Gemeinde a large crowd gathered in front of the
building to view what remained. Amongst numerous Nazi Party officials was
Kreisleiter Krüger, who appeared amongst the scores of bystanders, some of
whom appeared indifferent whilst others were excited. 45
An extensive photographic record also confirms the reports made about the
damage to Jewish businesses. Scores of onlookers and passers-by filled the streets
to view the damage. Some ignored what was around them and continued with
their business commitments; others congregated around damaged shop fronts,
discussing the events. 46 Businesses which had their shop front windows destroyed
included ‘L. Sperling & Co.’ 47 and ‘Kaufhaus Gebrüder Karfiol’. 48 Evidence of
the careful planning and co-ordination of the attacks is provided by the fact that
only Jewish-owned businesses and property were ransacked. Property and
businesses already ‘aryanised’ or in the process of ‘aryanisation’ remained
untouched. This included Jakob Wurmser’s leather and shoe repair business
images captured, it is most likely that these photographs were taken immediately after
the events of the pogrom.
45 Kreisleiter Krüger and others view the destroyed synagogue in Magdeburg, undated
photograph, Bestand Oa, Signatur Nr. 47a, ASGM, op. cit. From the image captured it
is most likely that this photograph was taken immediately after the events of the
pogrom.
46 Twenty-six undated photographs detailing the exterior damage to the shop fronts of
various Jewish businesses caused during the pogrom in Magdeburg, 9–11 November
1938, Photos Archive Collection, Phot Registry Numbers 135FO2-135FO9, 135GO1-
135GO4, 135GO6-135GO9, 136AO1-136AO5, 136CO4-136CO8, YVA. Identical
photographs from this collection are also located in Bestand Oa, Signatur Nr. 47a,
ASGM and in Collection M96, Files 22:2-7, 9, 11-16, SJMA. From the images
captured, it is most likely that these photographs were taken immediately after the
events of the pogrom. A further six photographs detailing the same damage, but taken
by a different photographer (from the previously cited photographs) are located in
Collection AR 120, Files KR-1 F 13379, 13382-13386, LBIA NY.
47 Photograph detailing the exterior damage to the shop front of ‘L. Sperling & Co.’
caused during the pogrom in Magdeburg, 9–11 November 1938, undated, Photos
Archive Collection, Phot Registry Numbers 136AO1, 135GO6, YVA, op. cit.
48 Photograph detailing the exterior of the damage to the shop front of ‘Kaufhaus
Gebrüder Karfiol’ caused during the pogrom in Magdeburg, 9–11 November 1938,
undated, Photos Archive Collection, Phot Registry Number 136CO5, YVA, op. cit.