94 WEILER Max

Max Weiler, Judenberg 17, born June 1, 1866 in Mülheim, Baden, died January 16, 1943, in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, married to Jette Weiler nee Lowenstein, born October 29, 1864 in Laupheim, died May 10, 1944 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

- Klara Weiler, born November 5, 1894 in Laupheim, murdered August 22, 1942 in the concentration camp Riga,

- Jakob Weiler, born May 3, 1896 in Laupheim, died on November 11, 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, World War I.

Max Weiler, a baker by profession, married Jette Lowenstein, from Laupheim, in Constance, Germany on May 4, 1893. Jette is the daughter of Joseph Lowenstein, a bakery owner in Laupheim, located at 17 Judenberg . He had bought the house in 1888.

The couple moved to Laupheim, the home of the bride. They lived at 17 Judenberg, which had 1000 square feet on two floors and housed the bakery on the south side of the building.

Max Weiler had the nickname "Matzah Baker". As early as 1898 he personally tore down the old chimney of the bakery and built a new one. A plan was created which was approved by the local council.

In 1919, a portion of the residential house on Bronner Street had been purchased for 750 Reichsmarks at an auction. The seller was the Jewish Community, the sale was confirmed by Dr. Treitel, S. Heumann, Steiner, Weil and Hofheimer. There Jette Weiler had probably set up a storage room. Max Weiler was known not only for his matzos, but he also kept geese under the bakery, which he stuffed with bread crumbs. Roast goose and foie gras were considered a delicacy at that time.

Two children were born. Clara, who remained unmarried and lived with her parents in Laupheim, and Jacob, a professional businessman who was drafted into the Army on October 14, 1915. He was a Musketeer in Infantry Regiment No. 169 and was stationed in Emmendingen. He was promoted to corporal, and was killed on November 17, 1916 in the Battle of Somme.

Klara was training to be a nurse, from 1929 to 1931, during which time she was not living in Laupheim. After her training she returned to her parent’s home. In October 1941, Klara, along with her 77 year old father and 75 year old mother, were forcibly relocated to Wendlinsgrube [ this was a designated settlement area in a gravel pit, just outside the built up area of Laupheim. In 1927 houses were built to accommodate the unemployed and homeless.] In 1942, their possessions, the family home at 17 Judenberg, and the store room, were confiscated by the German Reich."

Klara stayed in the Wendlinsgrube barracks for only about 6 weeks. On November 28, 1941, she is deported to the Riga concentration camp Jungfernhof via Stuttgart-Killesberg. She was number 18 out of a 23 person group that was deported. She survived there eight months; her date of death is given as August 22, 1942. We learn more about the terrible conditions in this camp in the book "The deportation of the Jews from Laupheim" by C. Hecht and A. Köhler Schmidt, S. 73. Her parents were still living in the barracks until August of the next year. Both of her parents were deported to Theresienstadt on August 22, 1942. Max died on January 16, 1943, almost 77 years old, Jette's date of death is May 10, 1944, she was nearly eighty years old.