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Former Synagogue Bergen op Zoom

During the Second World War in 1940, the Germans closed the synagogue.
The Jewish community, consisting of 60 persons were deported to concentration camps.
The interior of the synagogue was destroyed by the Germans and sold them to a private synagogue. The synagogue was defaced during the Second World War with (German) V signs, they were still there in 1970.

After World War II there were too few Jews who had survived the war in order to re-starting the synagogue in 1945 and came to the synagogue to be empty.
In 1973-1974 a restoration took place and the synagogue was reopened in 1975.

Along the roof and on a plaque is a poem that commemorates the fact that the synagogue came into the hands of an NSB in 1943 and was used for storing potatoes.

Text on the Plaque:

At the initiative of the Foundation
Conservation and Restoration of the Synagogue
was this former place of worship
in Bergen op Zoom
restored in memory of
in the years 1940-1945 died
Jewish compatriots
September 10, 1975

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Source

  • Text: TracesOfWar.com
  • Photos: Tjerk Kamstra