Deprived of a livelihood – the boycott and Aryanization of Jewish businesses

Repeated calls to boycott Jewish businesses appeared as early as 1933 in the National Socialist propaganda publication “Der Streiter”: “Forchheimers, don’t buy from Jews!” Defamatory attacks were made by the Nazis on individual Jewish business people such as the merchant Paul Wertheim. On March 31^st, 1933 both Forchheim newspapers published calls to boycott 18 Jewish businesses. On April 1^st SA members (Sturmabteilung – Brown-shirts) took up position in front of the shop and prevented customers from entering. Further discriminatory measures followed with the aim of isolating Jews from everyday public life.

Up to this time Jews had played a significant part in the economic life of the town. Their diverse businesses had supplied the population with a variety of goods and offered a wide, frequently inexpensive range. The industries which had arisen since the middle of the 19^th century had made it possible for many people to put food on the table. Jewish entrepreneurs had played a substantial role in this upswing. After the Pogrom Night Jewish businesses were forcibly closed down and taken over by new “Aryan” owners. The Foil Manufactory was already aryanized in 1935, the Schweizer Optic company followed in 1942.