Great Synagogue was the largest synagogue in the city of Katowice (Kattowitz), in southwestern Poland. It was erected in 1900 in what was then the

German Empire The German Empire (), Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditar ...

, and was designed by Max Grünfeld. The synagogue was set on fire by the

Nazis Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Naz ...

in early September 1939 during the

invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week aft ...

.12.07.2005 Obrona Katowic we Wrześniu 1939 r. S 56.2003. Postanowienie o umorzeniu śledztwa
IPN. 2005

History

The plans to raise a new synagogue in Katowice arose around 1890, when the Old Synagogue (Katowice) became too small for the local worshippers. The construction begun in 1896, and the architect in charge was Max Grünfeld, son of Ignatz Grünfeld who designed the old synagogue. The construction was finished in 1900 and the synagogue was opened on 12 October 1900. The synagogue was set on fire by

in early days of September 1939 after they gained control of the city during the invasion of Poland (1939); probably on 8 September.Klaus-Dieter Alicke wrote (''Lexikon der Jüdischen Gemeinden im deutschen Sprachraum'', 2008, ): "die Synagoge urdein Brand gesteckt – unter dem Vorwand, im Gebäude verborgene Heckenschützen unschädlich zu machen. Das Bauwerk brannte völlig nieder, seine Reste wurden danach abgetragen, nach Kriegsende die Freiflache teilweise überbaut." (.. was set on fire - under the pretense to dispose snipers hidden in the building. The fire destroyed the building completely; the remains were removed. After the war, the free area was partially covered with buildings) After the war the few Jews who survived the Holocaust were unable to gather enough resources and support to rebuild the synagogue. Today in the place where this building once stood is a square (Synagogue Square). In the 1988 a monument was raised in the square, dedicated to the Jewish inhabitants of the city who perished during the Second World War. Katowice - Laznia Miejska

Design

The brick synagogue was designed on the basis of a modified rectangle in style mixing

Neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

with

Neo-Renaissance Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range o ...

, eclecticism and traces of Mauritian style; similar to the style of reformed Judaism synagogues in contemporary Germany. The synagogue had a large dome with a cross-ribbed vault over the main prayer chamber which was preceded by a large entrance hall with offices and the chamber of marriage. The main chamber was topped with a lantern. Other characteristics elements included large decorated windows and small towers. The main chamber could hold 1120 people; 670 males and 450 females.

References

{{coord, 50, 15, 40, N, 19, 01, 08, E, region:PL-SL_type:landmark_source:dewiki, display=title Synagogues completed in 1900 Buildings and structures in Katowice Gothic Revival synagogues Synagogues in Poland destroyed by Nazi Germany Gothic Revival architecture in Poland Renaissance Revival synagogues Synagogue buildings with domes