A memorial plaque affixed to the exterior wall of the former Nitra synagogue honours the Nitra Jews who were deported. The synagogue building houses an exhibition on the history of the town's Jews.
Nitra, undated, Historical view of the city, Stiftung Denkmal
Nitra, 2004, View of the synagogue, Stiftung Denkmal
Until 1918, Nitra was located in the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austro-Hungarian Empire; after 1918, it became part of newly-founded Czechoslovakia. Hungarian, Slovak and German were the predominant languages in Nitra. With 4,400 members, the Nitra Jewish community was both one of the largest and one of the oldest in the region.
After the destruction of Czechoslovakia and the rise to power of Slovak nationalists in October 1938, the situation of Jews in Slovakia became increasingly difficult. Shortly after its declaration of independence, Slovakia had to cede part of its territory to Hungary - nationalists cast the blame for this on the Jews. In November 1938, all Jews not in possession of Slovak citizenship were deported to Hungary. 200 Jews from Nitra were affected by this. Jews were increasingly persecuted by the Slovak state, many were expropriated and deployed in forced labour details. In the fall of 1941, the Slovak authorities reached an agreement with the Germans concerning the deportation of the Jews living in the country. Over 3,500 Jews were deported from Nitra to ghettos and concentration camps in German-occupied Poland in early 1942. The main destinations of these deportations were the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps. In 1944, about 1,500 Jews who were »fit for labour« remained in Nitra. Most of them were arrested following the suppression of the Slovak National Uprising, then deported and murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
After the destruction of Czechoslovakia and the rise to power of Slovak nationalists in October 1938, the situation of Jews in Slovakia became increasingly difficult. Shortly after its declaration of independence, Slovakia had to cede part of its territory to Hungary - nationalists cast the blame for this on the Jews. In November 1938, all Jews not in possession of Slovak citizenship were deported to Hungary. 200 Jews from Nitra were affected by this. Jews were increasingly persecuted by the Slovak state, many were expropriated and deployed in forced labour details. In the fall of 1941, the Slovak authorities reached an agreement with the Germans concerning the deportation of the Jews living in the country. Over 3,500 Jews were deported from Nitra to ghettos and concentration camps in German-occupied Poland in early 1942. The main destinations of these deportations were the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps. In 1944, about 1,500 Jews who were »fit for labour« remained in Nitra. Most of them were arrested following the suppression of the Slovak National Uprising, then deported and murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Nitra, undated, Historical view of the city, Stiftung Denkmal
Nitra, 2004, View of the synagogue, Stiftung Denkmal
During the first years of war, the number of Jews residing in Nitra grew due to an influx of refugees. About 6,000 Jews were deported from Nitra and vicinity to German-occupied Poland where most of them were murdered by the SS.
Nitra, 1942, Deportation of Jews from Nitra, Múzeum SNP
Nitra, 2004, Memorial plaque to the victims of the Holocaust, Stiftung Denkmal
Since 1992, a memorial plaque on the exterior of the only remaining synagogue in Nitra has honoured the 6,000 Jews who were deported from Nitra and the surrounding areas.
The synagogue was opened in 1911 as a prayer house for the Neolog community. The building was derelict for many years after the war; in 2003, it was reopened as a venue for cultural events. An exhibition in what was once the women's gallery presents the history of the Jews of Nitra.
The synagogue was opened in 1911 as a prayer house for the Neolog community. The building was derelict for many years after the war; in 2003, it was reopened as a venue for cultural events. An exhibition in what was once the women's gallery presents the history of the Jews of Nitra.
- Name
- Synagóga Nitra
- Address
-
Pri synagóge 3
94901 Nitra - Phone
- +42 37 65 02 177
- Fax
- +42 2 54 41 11 06
- Web
- http://www.nitra.sk
- kultura@msunitra.sk
- Open
- Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. till noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Possibilities
- Since 2003, the synagogue building has served as an exhibition and concert hall. Displayed in the women's gallery is an exhibition on the history of Jews in Nitra.