Category: Solingen

The textile merchant Albert Tobias came from a Jewish family near Neuwied. In 1918, he married a non-Jewish woman from Solingen-Wald and founded a men’s clothing store there. Although not religious himself, his business, like many other shops and practices, was affected by the nationwide “boycott of Jewish businesses” on April 1, 1933.  Nevertheless, the […]

As a non-commissioned officer of Brigade Etsatz Battalion No. 27, Dr. Curt Gaertner from Solingen, a “Gerichtsassessor” or judge on probation, succumbed to a shot in the head on February 25, 1915 in France. He was the second victim from the Solingen synagogue community and was twenty-six years old. His younger brother Fritz fell two […]

The manufacturer Gustav Coppel played a prominent role in the economic, social, and political life of the city of Solingen. For a time, he was President of the Chamber of Commerce and chairman of various manufacturers’ associations. For several years, he led the local and district association of the National Liberal Party, was a city […]

In 1861, the synagogue congregation purchased a plot of land on Malteserstrasse, because the half-timbered house on Südwall, which the community had been using since 1787, had become much too small as a synagogue due to the sharp increase in the number of Jewish residents.  The financing of the new building took several years. In […]

In 1821, Alexander Coppel founded a company which initially produced and sold manufactured, iron, and steel products. In the late 1860s, he concentrated on cold weapons, which soon made him a leading weapons manufacturer with worldwide business connections. Alexander Coppel let the community share in his business success. He was instrumental in supporting the construction […]

In 1787, Michel David and Coppel Samuel purchased a building on Südwall, which served as a synagogue and school from 1788 to 1872. The residences of the Jews were scattered throughout the city, and several of the residential buildings were already owned by Jews. Jews also lived in the towns of Gräfrath and Wald, which […]

The Jewish burial place “am Clauberg” was first mentioned in 1718. The origins are unknown. The oldest preserved gravestone is dated June 15, 1820 and was erected for Sprinz, daughter of Jizchak Halevi, wife of Coppel Samuel. The Jewish cemetery on Estherweg reflects 120 years of funeral culture of the Jewish community in Solingen—from the […]

In the Duchy of Jülich-Berg, the decrees and ordinances that determined the situation of the Jews changed according to the respective ruler. Since 1514, they were required to wear a yellow ring on their chest as an identification mark. While in 1525, John III punished usury, especially among the Jews, but tolerated their presence, his […]