Weingarten, Baden 30.6.1998: Witches' Nests and Pogroms

So. Back in the pretty little church, where it turns out witches were persecuted, Jöhlingen having been quite a nest of Hexes, according to cousins Steve met yesterday. We also discover that the synagogue here, too, was pulled down on Kristallnacht and all the Jews sent packing. A cousin Steve met yesterday tells us there are families still living in the village who are well-respected, who participated in this action—who broke Jews’ windows and pulled their clothes and furniture onto the street.

How can human beings do something so horrifying? Casts an altogether different light onto this pretty little Baroque church. Iris, the cousin, showed us a picture taken in the village as the war began. Shows 5 or 6 smiling Mädchens in front of a sign where someone has chalked the slogan, Die Juden sind unser Unglück. Iris says most of these women still live in the village, elderly now.