• Memorial to the Synagogue
Since 1992 a memorial in the city centre of České Budějovice remembers the synagogue blown up in 1942 and the murdered Jews of the city.
Image: Budweis, about 1900, The neo-Gothic synagogue consecrated in 1888, Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích
Budweis, about 1900, The neo-Gothic synagogue consecrated in 1888, Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích

Image: České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová
České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová
Jews lived in the Southern Bohemian city of České Budějovice (German: Budweis or Böhmisch Budweis) since the 14th century, the first synagogue was built about 1380. However, the medieval Jewish community was destroyed during various pogroms around 1500. Only since the middle of the 19th century were Jews allowed to settle in the city again which they did in growing numbers. During the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire the city experienced a rapid growth and more and more Czechs moved to the previously largely German-speaking city. About 1900 the Jewish community had approximately 2,000 members out of a total population of 45,000. The most important symbol of their presence was the red brick neo-Gothic synagogue with its two high, church-like spires built in 1887/88.
After the breakup of Austria-Hungary České Budějovice was part of the new Czechoslovakian state. In 1939 the German Reich smashed Czechoslovakia and created the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, České Budějovice being part of it. The anti-Jewish policy of the National Socialists immediately had its effect on the Jews of České Budějovice. In 1940 Jewish businesses and homes were confiscated. On April 18, 1942 the remaining 909 Jews of České Budějovice were deported to the ghetto camp of Theresienstadt (Czech: Terezín). Most of them did not survive the Holocaust. The synagogue was blown up on July 5, 1942, one day after Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Reich Main Security Office and Deputy Reich-Protector died as a result of an assassination attempt in Prague. The remains of the building were subsequently pulled down.
Image: Budweis, about 1900, The neo-Gothic synagogue consecrated in 1888, Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích
Budweis, about 1900, The neo-Gothic synagogue consecrated in 1888, Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích

Image: České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová
České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová
Of the approximately 1,200 Jews that lived in České Budějovice prior to the smashing of Czechoslovakia only very few survived the ghetto camp of Terezín or the subsequent deportation to Auschwitz. Exact numbers are not known.
Image: Budweis, 1942, Demolition of the synagogue, Yad Vashem
Budweis, 1942, Demolition of the synagogue, Yad Vashem

Image: České Budějovice, 2011, Information plaque in front of the memorial, Jitka Erbenová
České Budějovice, 2011, Information plaque in front of the memorial, Jitka Erbenová
After the war České Budějovice was again part of Czechoslovakia where in 1948 a communist dictatorship was established. Until 1970 a small Jewish community existed, in 1950 a small memorial remembering the murdered Jews of České Budějovice was erected on the Jewish cemetery. Apart from that there was no official memory to the former Jewish inhabitants of the city until the end of the regime in 1989.
In 1999 a Holocaust memorial was erected on the site of the former synagogue, remembering the synagogue as well as the fate of the deported. The costs for the memorial were borne by the city of České Budějovice and by the Jewish community of Prague. The restoration of the jewish cemetery was also paid for by the Jewish community of Prague.
Image: České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová
České Budějovice, 2011, Memorial to the synagogue, Jitka Erbenová

Image: České Budějovice, 2009, The memorial to the victims of the deportations from 1950 on the Jewish cemetery, Jitka Erbenová
České Budějovice, 2009, The memorial to the victims of the deportations from 1950 on the Jewish cemetery, Jitka Erbenová
Name
Pomník synagogy
Address
Františka Antonína Gerstnera 8
370 01 České Budějovice
Open
The memorial is accessible at all times.