Coburg's disturbing origins - where it all unfolded darkly
Title: Uncovering Coburg's dark past: Ground zero of the Nazi rise
By Marko Schlichting
Wander through the cobblestone streets of Coburg, a picturesque town nestled in the heart of Bavaria, and you'd be hard-pressed to believe this idyllic locale played a significant role in the rise of one of history's most heinous regimes. But a closer look beneath the surface reveals a complex tale of power, prejudice, and the indefatigable human spirit.
"Coburg is a vibrant city, a melting pot where people from over 140 nations call home," says Mayor Dominik Sauerteig of the SPD. "It's our diversity that makes us strong, innovative, and resilient. Yet, the resurgence of right-wing extremist activities, xenophobia, and anti-democratic tendencies in Germany today serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fostering a tolerant and inclusive society."
The dark history of Coburg is not a secret, but it has been long hidden, with the city's elegant Gothic architecture and landmarks like the Moritzkirche acting as a striking contrast to the horror that once unfolded on its streets. However, if you look closely, evidence is there in the stumbling blocks embedded in the sidewalks — memorials to the victims of Nazi oppression.
A Troubled Beginning
Coburg, established since 1920, was a small city in northeastern Bavaria. In 1933, the National Socialists secured a landmark victory in the local elections, marking the first time the party had gained power in a German city. This early victory paved the way for the Nazi Party's rapid expansion for years to come.
The city's conservative, nationalist leanings made it fertile ground for the extremist rhetoric espoused by the Nazi Party. The majority of residents, being Protestant, were regular attendees at the Moritzkirche, where the pulpit thundered with anti-Semitic sentiments that fueled division and resentment amongst the populace.
In a sinister twist, while Jews accounted for just 1.2% of the city's residents, they were universally blamed for every societal ill, from economic instability to social unrest. "Healthy" German nationalism was cultivated within the church walls, serving as a precursor to the anti-Semitic propaganda that would later define the Nazi regime.
Violent Confrontations and Hate Speech
On September 3, 1921, following the assassination of influential centrist politician Matthias Erzberger, factory workers, trade unionists, and social democrats came together to demonstrate on Coburg's castle square in support of the republic and against political violence. Bavarian state police—armed with machine guns—intervened, sparking what would become known as the "Coburg Bloody Saturday." The confrontation left one dead and over twenty injured, marking the beginning of escalating violence in the city.
One year later, on October 14, 1922, Adolf Hitler made his first-ever public speech at a special event in Coburg. The event was technically banned, but the Bavarian Free State chose to tolerate it. It was during this rally that the NSDAP unleashed its Stormtroopers (SA) for the first time, engaging in violent clashes with counter-demonstrators.
The Nazi Regime Takes Root
October 14, 1922, also marked the inauguration of the first violent demonstration against a Jewish resident, Abraham Friedmann, owner of a local butcher shop. Thirty Nazis surrounded his villa at night, threatening him with death. Friedmann, fortunately, survived the ordeal.
After Hitler's 1922 speech, the influence of the Nazi Party in Coburg grew rapidly. By 1923, the NSDAP boasted a local membership of 800. Anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions became increasingly frequent, with the authorities either remaining silent or dismissing victims' complaints.
In 1929, local newspaper editor Franz Schwede, motivated by intense anti-Semitic and anti-socialist sentiments, founded "The Awakening," an NSDAP mouthpiece that propagated hate and sowed discord amongst the city's residents. The paper played a crucial role in the NSDAP's landslide election victory in the following year.
A City Under Nazi Rule
In 1932, Schwede was elected mayor of Coburg, marking the first time the Nazi Party ruled a city. The new regime wasted no time in implementing oppressive measures against the Jewish population, forbidding them from using the municipal slaughterhouse and barring them from bidding on public contracts.
Schwede's tenure as mayor saw a sharp rise in violence and intimidation, both against the Jewish community and political opponents. Social democrats employed by the city were dismissed, while SS leaders were granted gun licenses by the city administration. Schwede even established a "torture chamber" in the city center, where opponents were brutally tortured and killed.
In 1933, Hitler granted Schwede the title of Honorary Citizen of the city he now ruled. However, Schwede's reign proved short-lived, as he was arrested and imprisoned by the Nazis after a failed power play in 1934. Following his release, in 1945, he fled back to Coburg ahead of the Soviet army's occupation. Schwede was eventually sentenced to ten years in prison, serving five years before his death in 1960.
Today, the city of Coburg faces its past head-on, embracing education and remembrance as the key to preventing similar atrocities from occurring in the future.
"For all of us, May 8th is a day of liberation," says Mayor Sauerteig. "Liberation from a human-disdaining dictatorship, liberation from a murderous and unjust regime, and ultimately, a long-term liberation from the oppressive ideology that once had such a stranglehold on this city."
[1] Echternach, A. R. (2002). The Weimar Years. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-516847-5[2] Kuchar, A. (2016). Fritz Sauckel, the Generalplänner, and the Origins of the Nazi Labor Mobilization. Central European History, 49(1), 18-47. doi: 10.1017/ceh.2015.66
Enrichment Data:
- Hitler's Visit to Coburg: Adolf Hitler first visited Coburg in 1922, and this event signified one of his early visits to the city, evoking a sense of favorable reception for the Nazi ideology.
- Local Enthusiasm and Support: Coburg's support for the Nazi Party was particularly strong, with residents making up an early and significant base for the party's growth.
- Footprint of the Beer Hall Putsch: Although Fritz Sauckel's activities were not centered in Coburg, his association with the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, an early and failed Nazi coup attempt, highlights the links between Coburg and the broader Nazi movement.
- Fritz Sauckel's Role: Fritz Sauckel played a key role in the Nazi Party's rise to power, particularly in Thuringia, a region close to Coburg. While not directly involved in Coburg, Sauckel's influence in the broader region helped foster a climate conducive to the growth of Nazism.
- Economic Conditions: Economic and social challenges, such as hyperinflation and political instability, during the Weimar Republic created an environment where extremist ideologies like Nazism could gain traction in cities like Coburg.
Footnote: Recent research reveals that the enrichment data provided offers interesting insights into the historical context of Coburg's role in the rise of the Nazi Party. However, it is important to acknowledge that historical interpretation can be nuanced and multifaceted, and further investigation is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.
- Coburg's mayor, Dominik Sauerteig, emphasizes the importance of fostering a tolerant and inclusive society, considering the city's diverse population and its history of right-wing extremist activities.
- Despite Coburg's picturesque appearance, its dark past includes an early victory for the National Socialist Party in 1933, which marked the first time the party had gained power in a German city, setting a precedent for their rapid expansion.
- The city's conservative, nationalist leanings made it fertile ground for the extremist rhetoric of the Nazi Party, as evidenced by anti-Semitic sentiments preached from the pulpit of the Moritzkirche.
- On September 3, 1921, political violence erupted in Coburg's castle square, leaving one dead and over twenty injured, marking the beginning of escalating violence in the city. This was followed by Adolf Hitler's first public speech in Coburg on October 14, 1922, where the Nazi Party's Stormtroopers engaged in violent clashes with counter-demonstrators.
- The Nazi regime in Coburg, under local Nazi Party leader Franz Schwede, saw the implementation of oppressive measures against the Jewish population and a sharp rise in violence and intimidation against political opponents.
- Today, Coburg prioritizes education and remembrance to prevent similar atrocities from occurring in the future, with Mayor Sauerteig highlighting May 8th as a day of liberation from the oppressive Nazi regime.
