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Leo, Max and David Katzenberger were partners and owned the firm "Springmann Schuhwarenhaus"
(over 25 stores throughout Germany). The head-offices and warehouse in Nurnberg were at Splittlertorgraben 19 . The main store in Nuremberg was at Karolinenstrasse 36 . The Katzenberger residence was a villa at Praterstrasse 23. In this house lived Leo and his family, and also Max and his family. In March 1937 , Leo and Klara Katzenberger made a trip to Lebanon and Palestine , to visit their Children and grandchildren. A few weeks later , they returned to Germany. After 1939 , Leo Katzenberger served as chairman and leader of the Jewish congregation in Nuremberg. In March 1942, he was sentenced to death by the Nurenberg Nazi Court, by way of perverting and maladministrating justice, under the Nazi Race Laws. After being imprisoned since March 1941, he was executed, on June 3rd 1942, at the age of 69, in Munchen Stadelheim. On 28.5.1946 , the verdict of the Nbg Special Court against Leo Katzenberger was officially annulled. (Art. 9 "Gesetz Nr. 21 zur Wiedergutmachung nationalsozialistischen Unrechts in der Strafrechtspflege " GVB1, S.180). In 1998, the Council of Nurnberg unanimously decided to name a street after Leo Katzenberger as a memorial and symbol of recognition . In November 2001, a memorial stone was unveiled by the mayor of Nurnberg, with the following inscription:" "In memoriam of Leo Katzenberger, head of Nuremberg's Jewish community, November 25, 1873 - June 3, 1942, arrested and indicted because of the'Nuremberg racial laws' in a propaganda trial at Nuremberg Special Court, sentenced without guilt and executed as a victim of the Nazis' racist 'justice'". |
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In Köln, Leo had a paint-factory, in partnership with a Mr.Hecht. His two elder brothers,Dave and Max,meanwhile founded the firm "D&M Schuhwaren" in Nuernberg. Then they called upon Leo to join them. Leo and Claire lived in Spichernstrasse , and their two daughters were born in that house. |
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Max and David Katzenberger were partners and owned the firm "D&M Katzenberger". In ca. 1912
they called upon their brother Leo to join them, and together started a chain of shue-stores
. In 1916, they bought an existing shoe-store "Springmann Schuhwarenhaus" at Fleischbrucke in Nurnberg. Leo at that time had to operate the business alone, since his two brothers were recruited to the German army. The head-offices and warehouse "D&M Katzenberger" in Nurnberg were at Splittlertorgraben 19 . The main "Springmanns Schuhe" store in Nurnberg was at Karolinenstrasse 36. There were other stores in Nurnberg: Allersbergerstrasse 72 Theresienplatz 8 Landgrabenstrasse 144 In Furth: Schwab. Strasse 6 In Erlangen : Hauptstrasse 20 In Amberg : Krambrucke C1 |
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In Köln, Leo had a paint-factory, in partnership with a Mr.Hecht. His two elder brothers,Dave and Max,meanwhile founded the firm "D&M Schuhwaren" in Nuernberg. Then they called upon Leo to join them. When in 1912 they moved from Koeln to Nuernberg , Leo and Klara Katzenberger first lived in a rented flat in Bucherstrasse 19. David K. also lived nearby, in the same street (Nr.23). Later , in 1918, Leo and Max bought the house in Praterstrasse 23. Max K. lived downstairs , and above him Leo and his family. In the upper floor a flat was rented to a Jewish doctor , Dr.Brandeis , and his family. |
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Leo Katzenberger served since 1939 as chairman and leader of the Jewish congregation in Nurenberg. He was sentenced to death, in March 1942, by the Nurenberg Nazi Court, by way of perverting and maladministrating justice, under the Nazi Race Laws. After being imprisoned since March 1941, he was executed, on June 3rd 1942, at the age of 69, in Munchen Stadelheim. ____________________________________________________________ Death to the "Race Defiler": Excerpts from Opinion and Sentence of the Nuernberg Special Court in the Katzenberger Case [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. III, 653-663] -------------------------------------------------------------------- " Findings: 1. The defendant Katzenberger is fully Jewish and a German national; he is a member of the Jewish religious community... 2. Irene Seiler is a German citizen of German blood... [Testimonies about the relationship between Katzenberger and Seiler deleted] The court is therefore convinced that Katzenberger, after the Nuernberg laws had come into effect, had repeated sexual intercourse with Seiler, up to March 1940... The conduct to which the defendants admitted and which in the case of Katzenberger and consisted in drawing Seiler close to him, kissing her, patting and caressing her thighs over her clothes, makes it clear that in a crude manner Katzenberger did to Seiler what is popularly called "Abschmieren" [petting]. It is obvious that such actions are motivated only by sexual impulses. Even if the Jew had only done these so-called "Ersatzhandlungen" [sexual acts in lieu of actual intercourse] to Seiler, it would have been sufficient to charge him with racial pollution in the full sense of the law... He is therefore guilty of a continuous crime of racial pollution according to sections 2 and 5, paragraph 11 of the Law for Protection of German Blood and German Honor of 15 September 1935... As the only feasible answer to the frivolous conduct of the defendant, the court therefore deems it necessary to pronounce the death sentence as the heaviest punishment provided by section 4 of the decree against public enemies..." _______________________________________________________ On 28.5.1946 , the verdict of the Nbg Special Court against Leo Katzenberger was officially anulled. (Art. 9 "Gesetz Nr. 21 zur Wiedergutmachung nationalsozialistischen Unrechts in der Strafrechtspflege " GVB1, S.180). _________________________________________________________ |