Exhibition „Jews in Buttenhausen“ in the Bernheimer’sche Realschule

Pre- World War II Buttenhausen was one of the few rural villages in southern Wuerttemberg with a centuries-old Jewish community. It began on July 7, 1787 when the regional ruler, Philipp Friedrich Baron of Liebenstein, allowed 25 Jewish families to settle in this village on the Lauter river. In the decades which followed, a larger community developed, and by the mid 1800s comprised more than half of the village’s entire population. The Jews differed from their Christian neighbours not only in religion, but also in culture and occupations. Jewish tradesmen and entrepreneurs brought technological innovations and prosperity to Buttenhausen. Despite their differences, both groups co-existed peacefully for 140 years. Towards the end of the 19th century an increasing number of Jewish residents moved away from Buttenhausen to cities, but they did not lose connections to their native town. The destruction of the Jewish community started with the beggining of the National Socialist tyranny in 1933. Of the 89 Jewish citizens remaining Buttenhausen 1933, many did not survive the Nazi regime. After the outbreak of World War II, many residents of the Jewish nursing home in Heilbronn-Sontheim were transferred to Buttenhausen, and later deported to concentration camps. Since 1945 there have been numerous private and public initiatives, by both Jews and Christians, to keep the memory of the once rich Jewish community alive. The exhibition „Jews in Buttenhausen“ was set up 1992 in the Bernheimer’sche Realschule. The building was donated in 1901 by the Jewish Bavarian businessman Lehman Bernheimer.

Adress of the exhibition:
Zwiefalter Str. 30
72525 Münsingen-Buttenhausen

Open:
April to October: Sunday: 2 Pm to 5 Pm
During the Winter break the museum ist opened to groups by appointment (please use contact information listed below)

Admission charge:
The admission is free.

Contact:
Stadtarchiv Münsingen
Steffen Dirschka
Marktplatz 1
72525 Münsingen
Tel.: 07381/182115
E-Mail: steffen.dirschka@muensingen.de

The accompanying Book to the exhibition:

Jews in Buttenhausen (Text in German)
Series of works from the Muensingen City Archive 3
2nd Edition, Münsingen 2004
104 pages, numerous illustrations
Cost: 10 €

The book ist available at the museum in Buttenhausen (Zwiefalter Str. 30, 72525 Münsingen-Buttenhausen), at the Muensingen City Archive (Altes Rathaus, Marktplatz 1, 72525 Münsingen), at the town hall (Bachwiesenstr. 7, Room 25, 72525 Münsingen) and at the TouristInformation (Hauptstr. 13, 72525 Münsingen).

More information about the exhibition in WWW:
http://www.buttenhausen.de/