No Bridge over Troubled Water?

The renaming of street names with a loaded past is not the only topic occupying Freiburg's citizens. As you probably already know, Freiburg was once divided into two parts separated by a traffic axis, the Karl-von-Rotteck-Ring. Following the Ring's closure to car traffic in 2014, a pedestrian zone is under construction, "unifying" the two parts. A new streetcar line will be the only traffic between the university and the theater. A campus will be shaped between the new university library and the traditional quadrangles with lecture halls.

From the artist's perspective, the Square of the Old Synagogue is a broad surface covered with granite plates that have already prompted discussion about their heat retention on hot summer days. People have also criticized the absence of vegetation. Well, a few trees will be planted.

On the right-hand side in the back, you notice a water surface (©Stadt Freiburg)

A shallow water basin will mark the layout of the "old" synagogue that the Nazis burned down during the Reichskristallnacht on November 10, 1938. Later, they removed all the stones.

The planned water basin will have the layout of the old synagogue (©Stadt Freiburg)

Until recently, a commemorative plaque reminded passersby of the barbaric act. Freiburg's Jewish Community greatly appreciates the planned integration of the bronze plaque into the new commemorative water basin.

On an old postcard

Looking at an old photo, you notice that the synagogue was built on a small hill in 1870. The planning staff of the new pedestrian zone was confident that the Nazis had removed the synagogue's rubble, the building's basement, and the surrounding soil, too. They confirmed their assumption by using an ultrasound to probe the site. 

When the construction crew eventually dug holes to house the pumping station for the water basin, they found only remnants of Freiburg's medieval fortifications. So, it was a great surprise when, during the main work, they unexpectedly unearthed stones from the old synagogue.

©BZ/Ingo Schneider

All construction activity in the area stopped. The Jewish Community signaled that under no circumstances should the stones be touched. In fact, it would have been easy to cover those stones with soil, as planned for the medieval remains, but a small wall turned out to be 40 centimeters too high, protruding into the planned water basin.

The archaeological team submitted a report to the Municipal Council and the Jewish Community proposing that the more significant stones remain in situ. Only a few stones in the way will be removed and handed over to the Jewish Community if they agree.

While visiting the scene, Irena Katz, chairwoman of Freiburg's Jewish Community, set her handbag on the relics of the old synagogue but took it away immediately after realizing what she had done. She shook her head skeptically and said, "A poll among members of the Jewish Community has shown that more than 90% of the members are against removing stones."

Klaus Neidhart shows Irina Katz the stones to be removed (©BZ)

In the meantime, more than 90% of the city council members support Mayor Dieter Salomon, who strongly endorses the position of the archeological team.

Will the two parties reach an agreement? Freiburg's city council will decide on October 29, with no plan B in place.


P.S. Abgesang (swan song): Eventually, there was no bridge. In vain, a vigil of about 30 people demanded that the old synagogue be rebuilt as a documentation center, or at least that the unearthed remains be conserved and made visible. Although the Jewish Community had initially endorsed the water basin concept and despite a constructive debate, Irena Katz called the city council's decision to stick to the original plans "rigid." Her hope now is that work at the site will not start before November 9, the 78th anniversary of the Reichspogromnacht (Kristallnacht).
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