Synagogue Offenbach

Freunde des Capitol Theaters Offenbach e.V.

Fertigstellung: 2025

The synagogue in Offenbach is one of the few urban synagogues to have survived the Nazi era. The modern building, constructed in 1916, still dominates the streetscape. In November 1938, the Nazis ransacked the synagogue and set it on fire. The interior was destroyed. However, unlike in most other towns, the Nazis did not tear down the building.

The reconstruction of the interior is based primarily on historical photographs and a series of architectural drawings by the Offenbach architects Fritz Schwarz and Karl Wagner, who were responsible for the synagogue’s construction. However, the highly detailed plans are misleading, as they do not always align with the photographs. Structural adjustments made before construction began make it clear that these plans do not represent the final version. Overall, however, the source material was comparatively good, and areas where original building elements still existed—such as the dome with its preserved ornamentation—were incorporated into the reconstruction.