About Kleinsteinach

Early History

Historians claim that Jewish merchants accompanied the Roman legions to Europe after the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 BCE. The Bavarian Jews are first mentioned in 981; even though they arrived in Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) only in 1147. Since the 13th century the Jews lived in 28 permanent or temporary settlements in an area called the Hassberge district. They lived (among other places) in Hassfurt and in Hofheim that were part of the Ebern district prior to the reformation. The Jewish population was mainly urban but the pogroms forced themto move to the villages or live the life of vagrants. Jews have been recorded in Kleinsteinach since 1453. The general population has usually been less than 500 inhabitants, and its Jewish community was usually never more than 17% of its population or 75 residents. The Jewish cemetery, which serves the five surrounding villages, and is shown on many German maps, has been in existence since about the same date. Kleinsteinach has had a Rabbi since the year 1603.

Relationship with the Community

There was a good relationship between the Jews of Kleinsteinach and their Catholic neighbors.One of the most respected Jews of Kleinsteinach was Walter Maier, who was a member of the village council from 1909 until 1933. Most of the Kleinsteinach Jews were involved in the livestock trade. A number of them also worked as farmers, so that despite the agricultural boycott against the Jewish livestock dealers, they were able to maintain a livelyhood. Even in the year 1937 there was no one in need of welfare.

1936 - 1940

Between 1936 and 1940, 19 Jews left the village of Kleinsteinach. Twelve of them emigrated to the U.S.A.and one each left for England, Brazil and Ecuador and four left for other German towns.

On November 10th, 1938, members of the nazi-party (S.A.) came from Hassfurt to Kleinsteinach. The forced their way into the Jewish homes, smashed windows and furniture, and then went to the synagogue, where many of the Jews had gathered. They smashed the synagogue furnishings and windows. They carried out the torahs and other ritual items and piled it all together in front of the synagogue and set it afire. They also smashed the memorial tablet, which was dedicated in 1925, in memory of the Jews killed in World War I, from Kleinsteinach and neighboring communities. All the Jewish men, who had been warned of the "intended action" had fled from Kleinsteinach. All the Jewish women and one child, who were found, were arrested and taken under guard to the police station, and a hunt was started for the missing men. Since a number of local peasants were suspected of hiding Jews in their barns, the nazis tried to set the barns on fire, and also beat up some individual peasants.

Four of the Jews, who lived in Kleinsteinach in February of 1942, were taken to Wuerzburg on April 22nd, and three days later deported to Bica, Lublin ghetto in Theresienstadt. Their final destiny is unknown.

No Jews returned to Kleinsteinach after World War 2. The synagogue was destroyed and other buildings were badly damaged although some were still intact. The old cemetery still exists. In 1948, a trial was held in the Bamberg County Courthouse against 28 participants of the November 1938 pogrom. Nine received prison terms ranging from 3 months to 2 years, the rest were freed. There are no Jews currently living in Kleinsteinach.