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21 Aug, 2019
By, Wikipedia

Great Synagogue, Katowice

The Great Synagogue (Polish: Synagoga Wielka w Katowicach; German: Große Synagoge in Kattowitz) was a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, that was located on Uferstrasse (contemporary Mickiewicza Street), in Katowice (Kattowitz), in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, in what was then the German Empire.

Designed by Max Grünfeld in an eclectic mix of the Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival styles, and completed in 1900, the synagogue served as a house of prayer until World War II when it was destroyed by Nazis by arson in early September 1939, during the invasion of Poland.

History

The plans to raise a new synagogue in Katowice arose around 1890, when the Old Synagogue became too small for the local worshippers. The construction begun in 1896, and the architect in charge was Max Grünfeld, a son of Ignatz Grünfeld who designed the old synagogue. The construction was finished in 1900 and the synagogue was opened on 12 October 1900; the largest synagogue in the city.

The synagogue was set on fire by Nazis in early days of September 1939 after they gained control of the city during the invasion of Poland; probably on 8 September. After the war, the few Jews who survived the Holocaust were unable to gather enough resources and support to rebuild the synagogue.

The Synagogue Square, along with a small market, occupies the site of the former synagogue. In 1988, a monument was raised in the square, dedicated to the Jewish inhabitants of the city who perished during World War II. There were a series of plans to rebuild the synagogue, though none of them have proceeded to the implementation stage.

Design

The brick synagogue was designed on the basis of a modified rectangle in style mixing Gothic Revival with Renaissance Revival, eclecticism, and traces of Moorish Revival styles; similar to the style of Reform synagogues in contemporary Germany.

The synagogue had a large dome with a cross-ribbed vault over the main prayer chamber which was preceded by a large entrance hall with offices and the chamber of marriage. The main chamber was topped with a lantern. Other characteristics elements included large decorated windows and small towers.

The main chamber could hold 1,120 people; 670 men and 450 women.

Gallery

The former synagogue and the city bath, undated

Notes

^ Also believed to be 4 September.

References

^ "Obrona Katowic we Wrześniu 1939 r. S 56.2003. Postanowienie o umorzeniu śledztwa" (PDF) (in Polish). IPN. 12 July 2005.
^ "Synagoga Wielka w Katowicach. Zabytek, którego już nie ma - Historia". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ Alicke, Klaus-Dieter (2008). Lexikon der Jüdischen Gemeinden im deutschen Sprachraum (in German). ISBN 978-3579080352. ...die Synagoge [wurde] in Brand gesteckt – unter dem Vorwand, im Gebäude verborgene Heckenschützen unschädlich zu machen. Das Bauwerk brannte völlig nieder, seine Reste wurden danach abgetragen, nach Kriegsende die Freiflache teilweise überbaut." (Translated as: ...was set on fire - under the pretense to dispose snipers hidden in the building. The fire destroyed the building completely; the remains were removed. After the war, the free area was partially covered with buildings.)
^ "The Great synagogue in Katowice (Mickiewicza Street)". Virtual Sztetl. Warsaw: POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
^ Jedlecki, Przemysław (7 May 2012). "Plac Synagogi może być dumą Katowic". Wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 May 2023.