Main Synagogue

The antisemitic bias of the Dukes of Wittelsbach meant that Jews were not tolerated in Munich until well into early modern times. Even in 1810, there were fewer than 400 Jews living in Munich. Although the conditions for practicing their faith in this restrictive climate were very poor, the Jewish community in Munich set up a prayer room in Tal Street (this later became the building housing the ‘Mohrenapotheke’ pharmacy). It was not until 1805 that Jewish people were allowed to settle there permanently, elect a community leader, purchase real estate, and take up a number of professions that had previously been reserved for Christians. The Jew edict of 1813 also granted them the opportunity to build a synagogue, with the result that the Jewish religious community in Munich officially came into existence in 1815. Between 1824 and 1826, a classical-style synagogue was built on Westenriederstrasse to a design by royal court architect Jean Baptiste Métivier. It was consecrated on April 21, 1826 but was sold for demolition in 1887 and gradually dismantled after falling into disrepair. The new main synagogue on Herzog-Max-Straße 7, designed by Albert Schmidt in neo-Romanesque style, was dedicated in 1887. Between 1810 and 1900, the Jewish community grew to more than 8,700 members.

The main synagogue in Munich was torn down on June 9, 1938, followed by the main synagogue in Nuremberg on August 10, 1938 before the Reich-wide pogrom of November 1938. In Munich, it was Adolf Hitler himself who ordered the synagogue to be destroyed in order to press ahead with the expansion of the ‘Capital of the Movement’, while in Nuremberg the command was given by ‘Frankenführer‘ Julius Streicher. The company Leonhard Moll was engaged to carry out the demolition work. The memorial stone for the main synagogue on the corner of Maxburgstraße/Herzog-Max-Straße commemorates the building and destruction of the synagogue and the pogrom of November 1938.