Consider the weight of history held within these walls. This is the Bankhaus Mendelssohn. It stands as a testament to a family’s rise, their prominence in Berlin’s financial world, and their tragic persecution during the Nazi era.
Established in 1795 by Joseph Mendelssohn, the bank quickly became a cornerstone of Berlin’s financial district. His brother Abraham Mendelssohn Bartholdy joined him in 1804. By 1815, they had established their headquarters at Jägerstraße 51. This location became the foundation of Berlin’s burgeoning financial scene. The Bankhaus Mendelssohn remained there until its forced closure in 1939.
Mendelssohn & Co. rose to prominence among European banks. From the 1850s, they served as Royal bankers to the Russian Tsar. The bank dominated Central European financial markets. They handled Russian sovereign and railway bonds from the 1870s. World War I in 1914 and the Lenin putsch in 1917 disrupted these close ties. Yet, the Mendelssohn family continued to lead the company.
Even during the financial turmoil of the 1930s, Mendelssohn & Co. demonstrated resilience. After the deaths of Franz von Mendelssohn and Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in 1935, Rudolf Löb became chairman. He was the first non-family member to hold this position.
However, the rise of the Nazis cast a dark shadow. In 1938, the Bankhaus Mendelssohn faced Aryanization. This was a Nazi policy of confiscating Jewish-owned assets. The Mendelssohn & Co. was forced to transfer its assets to Deutsche Bank. It was subsequently shut down.
The Mendelssohn family endured further horrors. Their possessions were plundered. They were forced into exile. Some family members tragically committed suicide.
The building itself at Jägerstraße 49-50 has a rich history. Originally, the bank was founded in Spandauer Straße in 1795. In 1891, the bank acquired the neighboring properties. The new building designed by Gropius & Schmieden was completed at the cost of 366,600 Mark.
The ground floor served as the bank’s headquarters. The second floor housed the partners’ reception rooms. A narrow corridor led to an architecturally designed courtyard. The same architects also designed a stable for three horses in a second courtyard.
The Bankhaus Mendelssohn maintained its headquarters here until its forced liquidation in 1938. While the building at Jägerstraße 52 was destroyed in World War II, the original house and the new building from 1872/1873 survived. However, the former Mendelssohn residence at Jägerstraße 51 was significantly altered around 1950. Two stories were added. The neighboring bank building at Jägerstraße 49/50 was used by the German Foreign Trade Bank during the GDR era.
Since 2002, the building housed the Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations. Since September 2017, HGHI Holding has been headquartered here. An information panel stands near the Belgian Embassy. It recounts the turbulent history of the Mendelssohn family. It also tells of the Bankhaus Mendelssohn on Jägerstraße.
The Bankhaus Mendelssohn stands as a reminder of Berlin’s complex past. It embodies both financial success and devastating loss. Its story echoes through these walls. It urges us to remember the importance of justice and tolerance.