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At ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra, formerly Contessastrasse 6 in Hirschberg, there was a bakery owned by Paul Betterman—but he isn’t the focus of today’s story. On July 11th, 1942, at 8:30 AM, 54-year-old Paul passed away. The cause of death was clearly detailed in his death certificate: heart muscle damage, arteriosclerosis, and liver disease. Originally from Bolków (Bolkenhain), he was the son of Wilhelm and Pauline, and he left behind his widow, Berta Minna.
Paul Bettermann’s death certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
That same year, the John family took over the business. Reinhold John, the son of Fritz and Martha, wrote in his memoirs that in the late 1930s, they moved to Jelenia Góra from Neustädtel, now known as Nowe Miasteczko in the Lubusz Voivodeship. They first settled at Äussere Burgstrasse 31(now Podwale), where they ran a small wood-fired bakery. Reinhold remembers that the conditions were difficult—the leaky attic of their home, where they kept a galvanized bathtub, doubled as both a bathroom and laundry room.
Reinhold John in front of Paul Betterman’s bakery building, circa 1942 / Source: Reinhold John’s memoirs
In 1944, 10-year-old Reinhold, like other kids his age, was required to join the Hitler Youth. Meetings were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He recalls that in May and June, they collected potato beetles that had been dropped on Jelenia Góra and burned them in the school basement. They also took part in field games, one of which involved putting a brick in a student’s bag and having the others chase him.
One of the most memorable moments in Reinhold’s life was when the Red Army entered the city on May 8th, 1945. In his memoirs, he describes how his family, along with other residents, tried to flee toward the mountains, taking only the essentials. During their escape, they saw houses on fire and gunfire broke out, forcing them to take cover in a roadside ditch.
After reaching Stonsdorf (now Staniszów), the family found temporary shelter with relatives, which allowed them to spend the night in relatively safer conditions. The next day, they decided to return to Hirschberg and were surprised to find the bakery still intact.
When the region officially came under Polish control, the John family, like many others, faced forced relocation.
Children in Hitler Youth uniforms, with an Italian worker on the right
In 1946, the John family received a deportation order. Reinhold, his parents, and two grandmothers set off with their few belongings on a long trip to the transit camp in Hartau. On June 27th at 3:00 PM, they left in cattle cars, and a local artist drew Rübezahl, the Spirit of the Mountains, on the front car to accompany them on their journey.
After arriving in West Germany, Reinhold’s life started to stabilize. Despite numerous challenges, his family worked hard to rebuild their lives. Reinhold became a carpenter, got married, and raised three sons, all of whom, he notes, went on to achieve success in their own lives.
Contemporary view of the building at ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
Karl Gottlieb Troche, a sanitary doctor, owned the remarkable building located at pl. Piastowski 11 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (formerly Hirschbergerstrasse 11 in Bad Warmbrunn).
Building at pl. Piastowski 11 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
Karl was born on April 24th, 1860, in Laskowice Oławskie (Laskowitz kres Ohlau) as the son of Johann Troche, a retiree and landowner, and Susanna née Maskos. He didn’t stay in Laskowice for long, as he decided to pursue a medical career.
At the age of 27, on May 3rd, 1887, Karl married Gertrude Menzel from Legnica in Cieplice (Warmbrunn). She was the daughter of the late hotel owner Hermann Menzel and Minna née Bruchman. The couple had three children: two daughters, Edith Irmgard and Ilse Susanne, and a son, Walter Kurt Gerhard. Edith married Dr. Johannes Fleck from Kostrzyn (Custrin), who lived in Sokołowsko (Görbersdorf) and likely worked at the renowned sanatorium there. Ilse married Pastor Martin Friedrich Mueth from Hartenstein, who resided in Großdalzig. Walter Kurt Gerhard followed in his father’s footsteps and became a royal spa doctor.
Marriage certificate of Karl Gottlieb Troche and Gertrude née Menzel / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
Karl Gottlieb Troche passed away on September 22nd, 1915, at 1 a.m. in his apartment in Cieplice at the age of 55. His tombstone has survived to this day and is one of the few remaining from pre-war times at the municipal cemetery in Cieplice.
Karl Troche’s death certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
Karla Troche’s tombstone / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
According to the 1930 address book, Karl’s son, Walter, lived at Hirschbergerstrasse 13, literally across the street—in the building that now houses the police station. Walter’s mother, Gertrud, also lived there, along with Josef Wunder, a glass grinder. Meanwhile, at Hirschbergerstrasse 11, now pl. Piastowski 9, residents included, among others, the blacksmith master Bruno Wanka, likely with his wife Emma, and a widow, Alwine Knappe.
Police station at the former Hirschbergerstrasse 13 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
I don’t know about you, but I am always amazed by this building.
Details – building at pl. Piastowski 11 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
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On October 25th, 1895, Frida Singer went to the Civil Registry Office in Kowary to report that her younger brother had passed away the day before. Fritz Singer, the son of Julius and Amalie Singer (née Peter), was just six years and two months old. His tombstone is one of the few that remain in the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra.
Photo of Fritz Singer’s tombstone, Jelenia Góra, 2012 / Source: Fotopolska.eu
Fritz Singer was born on November 25th, 1888, in Kowary, which was then called Schmiedeberg and is located less than twenty kilometers from Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg). Kowary, like other nearby towns, was part of the Jewish community of Jelenia Góra. Fritz was the youngest of nine children born to Julius and Amalie Singer.
The family lived in a tenement at Markt 10, now ul. 1 Maja 19. Julius Singer was an enterprising man—he ran the inn “Under the Golden Lion” (Zum Goldenen Löwen) in the same building, reminders of which can still be seen in the form of the decorative lion heads on the doors. He also owned a local distillery and a fruit juice factory, which was said to produce the best mountain raspberry juice in the area.
The building where the Singer family lived / Photos by Jowita Selewska
Advertisement from 1884
Julius Singer was born on February 6th, 1849, in Kluczbork (Kreuzburg), the son of Samuel Singer, a horse dealer from Krasków (Kraskau), and Friederike, née Wendriner. On April 19th, 1876, he married Amalie Peter in Trzciel (Tirschtiegel), the daughter of Lewin Louis Peter and Seraphine, née Kirsch. Within a year, they moved to Kowary, where their first child, Alphons, was born on July 26th, 1877. The family faced difficulties—Alphons died after just six months, and their next son, Bernhard, passed away shortly after birth on May 13th, 1878. The family later had Max, Elfriede, and Hans—who lived only a year—followed by Willy, Elsbeth, Martha, and finally Fritz, through whom we learn about the Singer family’s story.
Amalie Singer passed away prematurely on February 26th, 1891, at just under 39 years old, leaving her husband with six children. Less than a year later, Julius decided to marry Minna Rothenberg from Rawicz (Rawitsch), the daughter of merchant Selig Rothenberg and Pauline, née Birnbaum. The wedding took place on February 2nd, 1892, in Wrocław (Breslau), where Julius would start his business ventures in the 1920s.
Death certificate of Fritz Singer / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
As early as 1912, Julius Singer is listed in the address books at Gartenstrasse 63 (now Piłsudskiego Street, near the Capitol Musical Theater) as a distiller. Later, the address book for the Jewish community in Breslau also includes his youngest and only son from his second marriage, Siegmund Singer, and his wife Erna, née Kohn, at the same address. Julius likely passed away in 1932 and was buried in the new Jewish cemetery on Lotnicza Street in Wrocław. His wife Minna probably died earlier, as she does not appear on the address list of community members.
Julius Singer in the address book of the Jewish community in Breslau (Wrocław)
Siegmund lived at Gartenstrasse 63 until the start of the war. He managed to escape to Shanghai and then arrived in San Francisco on September 17th, 1946, aboard the USS General W. H. Gordon. At fifty-one, he came to the United States to start a new life. According to the 1950 census, he settled in Milwaukee with his second wife, Sara, who was from Poland, and went into the antiques business. He passed away on December 18th, 1968.
It’s not known what happened to the rest of Fritz’s siblings.
Passenger list with the name Sigmund Singer
I’d like to thank Jowita Selewska for her help in finding the current address in Kowary.
The text appeared in the magazine Chidusz, issue 3/2023.
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Another remarkable figure lived at Hirschbergerstrasse 310 (later Hirschbergerstrasse 10), today known as Plac Piastowski 12. On November 9th, 1872, in Villa Bellevue, Wilhelm Seydelmann and his wife Augusta, née Schall, welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Martin Gustav Adolf Armin.
Armin Seydelmann / Source: Wikipedia
As he grew older, he would go by the last of his given names, Armin, and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Karl Seydelmann, a well-known 19th-century actor. In 1894, he began his career on the stage at the Coburg-Gotha theater, and over the next 13 years, he performed in numerous German theaters, including those in Lübeck, Sondershausen, Barmen, Erfurt, and Bremen, where he served as the director of the local municipal theater.
On August 8th, 1906, in Dresden, specifically in the Blasewitz district, 34-year-old Armin married Susanna Emilia Mathilde von der Osten, the daughter of theater actor Emil von der Osten, whose remarkable life story could be the subject of a separate post or even a book.
A photograph of Susanne von der Osten and the marriage certificate of her and Armin Seydelmann
The couple settled in Vienna, where they both worked at Austria’s leading theater, the Burgtheater. Armin was there from September 1907 until 1932, while Susanne worked there from 1910 to 1923. Starting in 1912, Seydelmann also became a professor at the Vienna Conservatory (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien).
Between 1919 and 1925, Armin also appeared in several films, usually playing roles of aristocrats and notable figures.
The von der Osten sisters, from left to right: Vali, Eva and Susanne
Armin’s father, Wilhelm, passed away in Cieplice (Warmbrunn) on August 25th, 1888, and his mother died on December 23rd, 1921, at the age of 91. Although Seydelmann had been connected with Austria for decades, the estate in Cieplice stayed in the family—it was still listed in the address book at Hirschbergerstrasse 10 in 1939. Perhaps Cieplice served as his summer residence, as it did for many.
Armin Seydelmann died on July 28th, 1946, in Spittal an der Drau, Austria.
Entries for Villa Bellevue in the address books over the years
Truly, Cieplice used to be home to many distinguished individuals.
Villa Bellvue currently / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
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Portrait of Adolf von Henselt painted by August Grahl / Source: Wikipedia
Adolf von Henselt was born on May 9th, 1814, in Schwabach, Bavaria, at Penzendorfer Straße 13. He was the son of Philipp Eduard, a cotton manufacturer, and Karolina née Geigenmüller. At just three years old, he began learning the violin, started piano lessons at five, and gave his first public performance at the age of 14. Soon after, he received a scholarship from the King of Bavaria to continue his piano studies with Johann Nepomuk Hummel.
Birth certificate of Adolf Henselt and a contemporary view of the entrance to the building at Penzendorfer Straße 13 in Schwabach
At the age of 8, Henselt lost his mother, and by 16, his father had also passed away—these tragic events likely contributed to his later nervous breakdowns and severe stage fright, which troubled him throughout his life. In 1836, to improve his mental health, he visited the spa town of Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic) and then went to see his former teacher Hummel, who was living in Weimar. Concerned about Henselt’s condition, Hummel arranged for him to meet with court physician Vogel, whose wife, Rosalie Vogel (née Manger), Henselt married a year later.
In 1837, he settled in Breslau, now Wrocław, where he composed his famous etudes (op. 2 and op. 5). On October 24 of the same year, he married Rosalie, who was 10 years older than him, in Bad Salzbrunn (now Szczawno-Zdrój). Rosalie had left her husband and four children to be with him. The couple had one child together, Alexander, who was born in 1839.
Adolf von Henselt
A few months after the wedding, after recommendations from friends, the newlyweds traveled to St. Petersburg for Adolf’s first concert tour of Russia. On January 21, 1838, during the trip, Adolf performed a concert in Warsaw and, to commemorate the occasion, composed the piece “Souvenir de Varsovie” (Souvenir of Warsaw). His success in Russia was so immense that at the tsar’s request, he stayed in St. Petersburg and was appointed court pianist to the tsarina, Alexandra Fyodorovna. He also began teaching music to the tsar’s children. In 1861, Henselt and his family were granted Russian citizenship, and in 1876, he received a Russian noble title.
Henselt composed all of his works by the age of 30 and, at 33, withdrew entirely from public performances due to chronic stage fright. From then on, he only performed for close friends and acquaintances, and he devoted himself to teaching piano. His career in education reached its peak in 1888 when he was appointed professor of piano at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.
Address book, Villa Henselt, 1882
In 1852, Henselt bought a palace in Gersdorf am Queis (now Gierałtów; the building no longer exists), where he hosted notable guests such as the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and the composer Richard Wagner. He spent every summer in Silesia and brought a silent keyboard with him on long trips so he could practice wherever he went.
In 1866, Adolf sold his property in Gierałtów and, in 1871, bought a villa in Bad Warmbrunn (now Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój), which became his summer home for the rest of his life. At Villa Henselt, he hosted intimate concerts for friends and close acquaintances. Bettina Walker mentions these gatherings in her memoirs, “My Musical Experiences”, published in 1892.
Historical view of Gartenstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (now ul. Juszczaka in Jelenia Góra)
Their happiness was interrupted by the death of their son. On February 10, 1878, Alexander passed away from pneumonia in Samara, Russia. The news caused Rosalie to suffer a severe stroke, leaving her unable to speak, walk, or write. Thankfully, with Adolf’s devoted care, she was eventually able to recover.
Adolf died on October 10, 1889, at home, and was buried in a now-defunct cemetery near the Evangelical Church in Cieplice. Rosalie passed away four years later, on September 27, 1893, at the age of 89.
From left: a note from Gazeta Handlowa (October 19, 1889) announcing the death of Adolf von Henselt; death certificates of Adolf and Rosalie / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
According to the 1882 address book, Villa Henselt was located at Gartenstrasse 329, now Juszczaka Street. Unfortunately, the numbering has changed, and since there were no heirs, the Henselt name no longer appears in later address books. It is known that Villa Henselt was built in the 1870s. Based on comparisons of addresses and names in the address books, I consider buildings at the current addresses of Juszczaka 14 and 16 to be the most likely candidates. Building number 12, listed as number 330 in the 1882 address book, belonged to the Merker family, so number 14 could be the Henselt residence. However, stylistically, I would lean towards number 16 as the villa of such an artist.
From left: the building at ul. Juszczaka 14 and the building at ul. Juszczaka 16 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
What do you think? Perhaps someone will manage to discover which house was actually Villa Henselt?
From left: the Henselt monument in Schwabach, and the album cover by Piers Lane featuring Henselt’s etudes
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In 1927, at 70 Hermsdorferstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (now Cieplicka 70 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój), lived Josef Galle, a senior tax secretary, Ernst Kuhlig, a chimney sweep, and Max Klein, a porter.
Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
The first page of Ernst Kuhlig’s marriage certificate / Source: Landesarchiv Berlin
In 1939, Agnes Ludwig, a widow, resides in the villa alongside Bishop Fritz Kessel, who will be staying there at least until 1941. Upon further investigation, it seems likely that this refers to the controversial clergyman who, among other things, co-founded the pro-Nazi religious movement known as Deutsche Christen (German Christians). Fritz Kessel, born on March 10, 1887, pursued studies in Protestant theology at Königsberg (Królewiec), Heidelberg, and Breslau (Wrocław).
Address book from Bad Warmbrunn, 1941
After his studies, he participated in World War I. In 1917, he was ordained as a priest, and three years later, in 1920, he was sent to Brazil where he served as a pastor in Badenfurt (Santa Carolina). After another three years, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, and in 1925, he returned to Germany. He then became a parish priest in Parchwitz (Prochowice), and in 1928, he additionally took on a role in the parish of St. Nicolai in Berlin-Spandau. In 1932, he co-founded the aforementioned Deutsche Christen movement, and in 1933, he was appointed Bishop of East Prussia with headquarters in Königsberg – against the will of Gauleiter Erich Koch.
Archival photo of the building / Source: Fotopolska eu
Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
Villa Martha currently / Fot. Marta Maćkowiak
Archival photos of the building. On the left, a view from the garden side / Źródło: Polska-org
And that’s it. The trail has gone cold for now. At least I got some practice taking photos with the camera.
Contemporary view of the building / Fot. Marta Maćkowiak
Do any of you happen to know any stories about this building? Post-war tales are welcome too; feel free to share them in the comments!
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Interior of the building on Mornicka Street / Photo by Dudek Real Estate Agency
Historical view of the building / Source: Polska-org.pl
In that same building, there were residents like barber Meßner, Pastor Ratsch, and the Rosemann couple – Curt, a bank board member, and his wife Martha.
In 1939, Hermine Seidel still resided here along with legal trainee Werner Loecher, court inspector Georg Loechel, painter Paul Krause, pharmacist Odo Wanke, and, of course, Heinrich Drosdek, the owner of the pharmacy.
On July 28, 1928, 69-year-old Heinrich married 56-year-old widow Anna Luise Maria Pelz née Mannigel, originally from Nysa (Neisse). She was the daughter of merchant Richard Mannigel and Maria née Vietz. They shared 11 beautiful years together – unfortunately, on February 18, 1939, Anna Luise passed away due to diabetes and kidney failure.
Death certificate of Anna / Source: State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
Heinrich lived here until his death. On July 22, 1944 his son, Dr. Walter Drosdek, a medical doctor, reported to the Civil Registry Office that his father, a Catholic and the son of the gunsmith Anton Drosdek and Katharina née Stanek, born on November 10, 1858, in Gliwice (Gleiwitz), had passed away on July 21, 1944, at 8 a.m., due to heart failure.
Death certificate of Heinrich / Source: State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
Interior of the building on Mornicka Street / Photo by Dudek Real Estate Agency
Źródła:
Contemporary view of the villa formerly owned by Friedrich von Bernhardi / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
Friedrich Adam Julius von Bernhardi
Friedrich’ s grandfather, Adam Johann Ritter von Krusenstern
Contemporary view of the house and photos of preserved historical interior details / Source: private archive
Friedric’s father-in-law, Wilhelm Günther von Colomb
Katharine also passed away first – on April 5, 1929, in her home at Warmbrunnerstrasse 104 (today ul. Tkacka 19), having lived for 75 years. Friedrich, at the age of 80, departed a year later – on July 10, leaving no descendants.
Death certificate of Katharine von Bernhardi (left) and Friedrich von Bernhardi (right) / Source: State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
Thank you very much to the owners for sharing these beautiful interior photos.
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The Jewish community in Jelenia Góra (formerly Hirschberg) was quite modest, with a peak population of only 450 people. Nevertheless, the city had two Jewish cemeteries.
New Jewish Cemetery in Jelenia Góra on Sudecka Street / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
The first, so-called “old” cemetery, was established between 1818 and 1820 in the vicinity of Nowowiejska, Na Skałkach, and Studencka streets. Today, there is no trace of this cemetery. No tombstones or cemetery architecture have been preserved, and a public square now stands in its place. After the resolution to close the cemetery was adopted by the City Council Presidium in Jelenia Góra in 1957, the liquidation process began in 1961.
Map of Jelenia Góra featuring the marked location of the old Jewish cemetery / Source: Fotopolska.eu
Photograph, likely depicting remnants of the old Jewish cemetery according to Fotopolska users, year 1928 / Source: Fotopolska.eu
Facing the street stood a beautiful mortuary building, which was set on fire during Kristallnacht in 1938. Surprisingly, the structure survived the war, and until 1972, it was inhabited by Leon and Maria Grzybek, the caretakers of the area. The Grzybek couple, quite fittingly named (Grzyb means ‘mushroom’ in Polish), tragically died due to mushroom poisoning. The cemetery was ultimately closed almost 100 years after its establishment, in 1974. The last burial in this building took place in 1959, and at that time, the Jewish community in Jelenia Góra consisted of 20 families.
Mortuary building at the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra / Source: Okruchy z historii Żydów na Śląsku (Fragments from the history of Jews in Silesia), Warsaw 2014 via cmentarze-zydowskie.pl
Mortuary building at the Jewish cemetery on Sudecka Street in Jelenia Góra / Source: Polska-org.pl
Mortuary building at the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra – building in the bottom right corner / Source: Polska-org.pl
Today, one part of the cemetery serves as a parking lot. Along the sidewalk, likely on the site of the mortuary, there is a boulder with a commemorative plaque, and further back, you can find several well-preserved tombstones.
Seven of them have been deciphered, and each will be the subject of a dedicated article: Rosel Aptekmann, Mathilde Buttermilch, Wilhelmine Danziger, Betty Ucko, Herman Cohn, Fritz Singer, and Leon Goldgraber, a representative of the post-war Polish community.
“The bitter death will not separate love” – inscription on one of the tombstones at the Jewish cemetery on Sudecka Street in Jelenia Góra.
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