Here stands the Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung. It is a sobering reminder of a dark chapter in Berlin’s history. This memorial commemorates the tragic events of 1510. In that year, 38 Jews from Berlin and other towns were burned at the stake. They were accused of host desecration.
The Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung was erected in October 1988. It was placed in a green space next to Mollstraße 11. The Magistrate of Berlin commissioned it with the Jewish Community.
The Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung features a granite stele. It has two plaques with inscriptions. The upper plaque has a Hebrew inscription. Translated into German, it reads: “Here rest the holy remains of the members of our first community in Berlin. They were murdered as martyrs and burned on 12 Aw 5270. This plaque was placed by Meir, the son of Abraham Salomonski, in 1935.”
Rabbi Martin Salomonski had this plaque installed in 1935. It was placed at the synagogue of the Jewish old people’s home. This was located at Lietzmannstraße, corner of Landwehrstraße. The street was renamed Gerlachstraße in 1939. It was abolished in 1970. Today, the site is near the playground of the Berolinastraße 7a kindergarten. It is about 200 meters southwest of the Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung.
The old people’s home served as a collection point in 1941 and 1942. From here, people were deported to Theresienstadt, Riga, or extermination camps. After severe war damage, the ruins were demolished in the early 1960s. The recovered plaque was given to the Jewish community.
The lower bronze plaque was created in 1988. It explains: “In the year 1510, 38 Berlin Jews were burned for alleged host desecration. Their bones are buried here.”
However, the last sentence is misleading. The current location is not identical to the synagogue of the old people’s home. Also, the victims were not only from Berlin. They also came from other towns in the Mark.
The events of 1510 began with a theft. In the village of Knoblauch, a Christian tinker named Paul Fromm stole a monstrance and two consecrated hosts. Under torture, he said he sold one of the hosts to a Jew in Spandau. This led to accusations and arrests of Jews in many towns. About 100 people were taken to Berlin for investigation.
On July 19, 1510, the court announced its verdict. 38 Jews were burned at the stake. This took place at the execution site near Georgentor. At least two others were beheaded. The tinker was also executed.
It is unclear where the victims’ remains were buried. It was common to bury them near the Rabenstein. This was close to the later synagogue of the old people’s home. There is no evidence of an early Jewish burial site there.
Following these events, Jews were expelled from the Mark. This benefited the rulers and citizens. Debts to Jewish merchants and bankers did not have to be repaid. Jews were not allowed to resettle in Berlin until 1539.
The Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of early and recent Berlin history. The Gedenkstein für die Opfer der Berliner Judenverbrennung is not a protected monument. It serves as a place to remember those who suffered from antisemitism.