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Gargzdai (Gorzd), Lithuania

Jews from Memel Killed in Gargzdai 

    The Ulm Judgment (Vol. XV, Case No. 465) lists twelve Jews, originally from Memel, who were killed in Gargzdai on June 24, 1941.  These are apparently the only individual victims named in the judgment, among the total stated number of 201:

Viehhändler Funk und Scheer
3 Brüder Korfmann
die Fabrikanten Bernstein und Tauer
der Seifenfabrikant Feinstein
Sundel Falk
Silber
Kahlmann
Pristow

Most of these probably had moved to Gargzdai in connection with growing antisemitism in the 30's, or ultimately the German takeover of Klaipeda/Memel in 1939.  Perhaps they chose Gargzdai as their destination because they had relatives there. The judgment indicates that these persons were recognized by name by members of the execution commando, which included police and border police from Memel. 



Name
First Name
Occupation stated in
Ulm Judgment
Possible listing in
Memel (Klaipeda)
City Directories 1931 and 1935

Possible listing in Klaipeda telephone directories comments
1
Viehändler Funk
cattle dealer
1935:
business section, p. 17
"Fleischermeister"
Sam. Funk
Gr. Wasserstr. 3/4

Yad Vashem database lists Bluma Funk nee Rozin, married to Aharon, lived in Gorzd.
Town of Gargzdai list shows Elija Funk (#20); George Birman identifies him as a butcher.
Photo of soccer players shows Sam Funk (second photo, player # 6)
1940 Gargzdai Phone book shows Aronas Funkas, butcher. Also 1939 and 1938.
listed as "Porak" in Gorzd Memorial Book account of Ulm trial, p. 79
2
Viehändler Scheer

cattle dealer
1931:
Enikas Scheer
Kfm.
Marktstr. 34

Yad Vashem database lists 14 Shers, perished in Gorzd: Avraham (a butcher), Pere (his wife), their children Barukh, Yaakov;
 Moshe (a butcher), Tova (his wife), their children Yehudit, Feiga, Yisrael, Yosef, Feibush;
 Khaim, Rala (his wife);
Hertzel
Town of Gargzdai list shows Mauš Šer (#21) (identified by George Birman as a butcher), and Abram Šer (#53)
3-5
3 Brüder Korfmann



Patrick Tobin, Crossroads at Ulm:Postwar West Germany and the 1958 Ulm Einsatzkommando Trial (2013), p. 159, describes pretrial interrogation of a witness, a Memel policeman who had been a member of the shooting squad, and knew "sixty-five year old Korfmann and his three adult sons who worked at the cattle market in prewar Memel."
6
Fabrikant Bernstein
manufacturer
1931:
Samuel Bernstein
Kaufm.
Bäckerstrasse 11-12

Behörden [Authorities]:
Sachsverständige fur Flachs [experts for flax]:
S. Ch. Bernstein,
Bäckerstrasse 10-12

Slioma Bernstein
Schäftem., Breitestrasse 16a
[gunstock maker?]


7
Fabrikant Tauer
Otto (?)
manufacturer
1931:
Otto Tauer
Kfm
Alexanderstr. 23

Tauer & Friedmann
Rossgartenstr. 23

1935:
Otto; Hermann; Sally
Präs-Smetona Allee 10
1930 - Tauer ir Friedmann

1935 - Tauer ir Friedmann

1938 - Tauer ir Friedmann

1939 - Tauer ir Friedmann
Yad Vashem database lists Lina Tauer, nee Feinstein, married to Otto.  Lived in Memel.
8
Seifabrikant Feinstein
Max (?)
soap manufacturer
1931:
Max Feinstein
Kfm.
Flesichenbänkenstrasse 2

1935:
Max Feinstein
Kfm
Montestr. 3
1930 - M. Feinstein

1935 - Max Feinstein

1938 - Max Feinstein

1939 - Max Feinstein



Ulm Judgment relates that he knew a policeman in killing squad, a former neighbor and friend.  Feinstein called out, "Gustav, shoot well!"

Yad Vashem database lists Lisa (Olschwang) Feinstein, wife of Max. Lived in Memel
9
Sundel Falk




Gargzdai town list, shows Zunde and Hide Falk (#66, 67).  George Birman identifies Zunde as a large merchant.
Pictured as a director of Gorzd Jewish Bank, 1936.
1940 Gargzdai Phone book lists Zundelis Falkas, horse dealer. Also 1939, 1938, 1935, 1930, 1925
listed as "Zondal, Pelek" or "Zonda Polack" in Gorzd Memorial Book account of Ulm trial, p. 79
10
Silber





11
Kahlmann





12
Pristow
Bernhard or
Ber

1931:
Bernhard Pristow
Kfm
Libauerstrasse 24

1935:
Bernhard
Kaufm., Libauerstr. 24
1930 - Bernhard Pristow

1935 - Bernhard Pristow

1938 - Bernhard Pristow

1939 - Bernhard Pristow
Yad Vashem database lists Ber Pristow, from Memel

Note:  Kfm., Kaufm = Kaufmann, merchant
Possible identity between Feinstein mentioned in judgment, and Max Feinstein in 1935 directory, is set forth in Joachim Tauber, "Garsden, 24. Juni 1941," 5 Annaberger Annalen 117 (1997), p. 128.

Photo of Jews from Memel fleeing to Gargzdai in 1939 (at Information Portal to European Sites of Remembrance)

Ruth Leiserowitz, “The Illusion of a transmigrative Existence. Jews in Memel in the 20th Century" at Jews in East Prussia

Streetmap of Memel, 1923, showing house numbers

Jewish News Archive