Very little of the original architecture of the 19th and early 20th century remained in Schneidemühl
after the end of the Second World War. Additionally, successive post-war Communist city councils
had little regard for sentiments, as new blocks of Stalinist-style concrete buildings made room
for a relocated population in the reborn city of Piła. The result of the rebuilding process,
possibly mixed with the wish to eradicate the German past of the city,
was the elimination of several streets and some of the remaining old buildings.

  An eclectic choice of old photographs

(Photo courtesy J. Rosenberg, Chile)

(Photo courtesy J. Rosenberg, Chile)

Hindenburg Platz, originally known as Alter Markt, ca. 1930.
This used to be the centre of the old town of Piła in the 16th century.

(Photo courtesy J. Rosenberg, Chile)

The Bürgergarten, once known as "Straubel's Tivoli," formerly a favorite
weekend restaurant for the populace.
On 21 February 1940 this building was taken over by the Gestapo and became
one of the many detention centres of the Jews of Schneidemühl and the
surrounding areas who had been arrested on that day.
Many of the elderly perished in this locale, while the rest were eventually deported
from here to labor camps, hospices and ultimately, in 1941-43, to the death camps.






(Photo courtesy J. Rosenberg, Chile)

Schneidemühl, February 1945: the Soviet Red Army, fighting street by street
.





.
(Photo courtesy J. Rosenberg, Chile)

14 February 1945 — German capitulation.
One of the countless ruins — all that remained of the once fashionable Friedrichstrasse

Faces of the community In Memoriam Calendarium The kehillah's rabbis in the 20th century Schneidemühl revisited Bygone days The old cemetery Street names — then & now Burials 1915—1940 Jewish commerce in Schneidemühl The kehillah's patriots Maps Links & Searchable Databases

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