What is Commemorated?
The Main Synagogue in München destroyed in June 1938
Description:
The monument stands at the place of the Main Synagogue and consists of five granite blocks of different sizes. The side looking toward the Maxburgstrasse has a Magen David inscribed with verse 18 of Psalm 74 in German and Hebrew. On the backside, Tablets of the Law with the Decalogue (first two words in Hebrew) are carved in the stone. A seven-branched menorah surmounts verse 8 of Psalm 74 in Hebrew.
Inscriptions:
The side looking toward the Maxburgstrasse inscribed with verse 18 of Psalm 74 in German and Hebrew:
"Ge-
denke
dies der Feind
höhte
dich"
זכר זאת"
אויב
"חרף ד
74. Psalm / Vers / 18
Translation:
"Remember this, how the enemy has mocked you, Lord"
Above and below of the Magen David, a German inscription in square letters reads:
"Hier stande die 1883-87
erbaute Hauptsynagoge
der israelitischen
Kultus-Gemeinde
Sie wurde in der Zeit
der Juden-Verfolgung
im Juni 1938 abgerissen
Am 10. Nov. 1938 wurden
in Deutschland die Syna-
gogen niedergebrannt."
Translation:
"Here stood the Main Synagogue of the Jewish community, built in 1883-87. In the time of persecution of Jews, it was destroyed in June 1938. On 10 November 1938, in Germany, synagogues were burnt down.
On the backside, Tablets of the Law with the Decalogue (first two words in Hebrew) are carved in the stone. A seven-branched menorah surmounts verse 8 of Psalm 74 in Hebrew:
שרפו"
כל
מועדי
אל
"בארץ
Translation:
"They burned all the meeting places of God in the land" (Ps. 74:8).
On the left side of the monument, another menorah surmounts verse 7 from Psalm 74 in Hebrew:
שלחו"
באש
מקדשך
לארץ
חללו
משכן
"שמך
Translation:
"They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name" (Ps. 74:7).
A metal plaque with the name of the artist on the back of the monument reads:
"Gestaltet 1969 von
Herbert Peters"
Translation:
"Designed in 1969 by Herbert Peters."
Commissioned by
The Jewish community of Munich (Die Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern K.d.ö.R., IKG)
In the beginning of June 1938, the Jewish community of Munich (IKG) was forced to sell the synagogue (est. 1883-1887, arch. Albert Schmidt) for a symbolic price on the pretext of traffic-related needs. The synagogue was demolished in June 1938, i.e. before the Kristallnacht.
In 1964, IKG bought back the plot of the former synagogue, and in 1966, the competition for a memorial to dedicate the destroyed synagogue was announced. Among 70 artists that took part in the competition, IKG chose the design by Herbert Peters. The unveiling ceremony took place on November 9, 1969, on the 30th anniversary of the Kristallnacht.
In 2006, the plot of the former synagogue was built up; currently, it is occupied with the extension to the Munich department store Oberpollinger that was erected just several meters behind the memorial.