Creating a chronological overview of the Samuels' homes is not straightforward. On the one hand, the major upheavals in the inflationary period of 1922/23 and the subsequent global economic crisis played an important role; on the other hand, the Nazis' seizure of power also adversely affected the living circumstances of the Samuels family.

Unfortunately, few records offer definitive dates, so in many cases time frames of use or ownership can only be inferred.

In 1917, before the end of the 1st World War, the Samuel couple moved from Stade to Cadenberge. Eugenie and Arthur were both 37 years old and wanted to build a solid business as a shared livelihood during these uncertain times. Cadenberge was known throughout the region for its significant markets, and Arthur saw a great opportunity to earn his living here as an independent cattle dealer.

Residential building at Langenstraße 18

The couple purchased their first residential and commercial property at Langenstraße 18 in 1919.
However, they sold it in 1924. The original building no longer exists, having been replaced by an apartment complex.

Houses and land at Finkenhörne 3 – 5

As early as 1920, the next real estate acquisition took place with the purchase of buildings and land at Finkenhörne 3-5. This purchase was probably purposefully planned, because the properties were in the immediate vicinity of the large cattle markets, which were regularly held along the entire Bahnhofstraße. On the new property, cattle bought or intended for sale were kept in barns. There was no residential building on the property.

Residential building Stader Straße 7

For a few years Arthur and Eugenie Samuel lived at this address, in a beautiful building known as the White Villa. It seems that they rented this house sometime between 1920 and 1923, when they were able to move into their newly constructed building at Bahnhofstrasse 2.

Residential and commercial building Bahnhofstraße 2 (a pharmacy today)

A pivotal opportunity for the Samuels to expand their business activities was the acquisition of the corner property at Bahnhofstraße 2/Finkenhörne, on which stood a half-timbered house with a thatched roof. It was built in 1853 as an inn by the beverage supplier Johann Tiedemann. After a brief period of ownership by others, Arthur Samuel bought the property in 1923 and had the old building demolished. Thereupon – rather unusually for Cadenberge – an architect from Cuxhaven was commissioned to design an attractive new residential and commercial building. A spacious building with an external staircase, bay windows and shutters were planned. The property immediately caught the eye due to its proximity to the entrance to the village. A local historical account described the building as a house that "form wise went beyond the usual construction style of the time". The couple resided in this modest "villa" for only a short while, from 1924 to 1928 or thereabouts.

Bahnhofstraße 2 – The residential and commercial building of the Samuels, built after 1923.
(Photo: Private)

Background to the house sale

It was generally known that Arthur Samuel was forced to sell his house at Bahnhofstraße 2 and many have made a direct connection between the sale and the racist motivated persecution of him by the Nazis.

This view is unsurprising because the Nazis thwarted the trading business of the Jewish cattle dealer Arthur Samuel by all possible means. Thus, he was left without income and could no longer maintain his house. This could have been an important reason for the sale.

In a report in the “Niederelbe-Zeitung” from many years ago, this perspective was echoed by a contemporary witness who was quoted as saying: "that after the end of the war, the English occupiers offered Arthur Samuel the opportunity to reclaim his house. However, he refused because he had already sold the house It appears that the sale was likely considered unlawful, which led to the offer of returning the house. Arthur Samuel's negative response is somewhat unclear in this context, and no further explanation was provided for his position.

When one takes a closer look at the contradiction and the data, it becomes apparent that Arthur Samuel's attitude might make sense after all, because persecution by the Nazis mainly began after 1933. However, (without selling!) the Samuels moved out of the house at Bahnhofstraße 2 much earlier, around 1928, which we were not aware of until now.

A significant document dated February 19,1988 by Mrs. von Ahn-Schlichting of Cadenberge, made available to us by the local historian G. Lunden in the summer of 2025, helps in clarifying the background to the sale of the house. In it, the contemporary witness describes many details about the living and working conditions of the cattle dealer during the inflationary years 1922/23.

Excerpt from a 1988 letter from Elfriede von Ahn-Schlichting to secondary school teacher
Horst Vergin (facsimile of the article)

The document describes the serious negative consequences of the inflation of 1922/23 and the subsequent world economic crisis, which also directly affected Arthur Samuel.
In the cattle trade, he had bought many oxen at high prices; however, subsequent inflation significantly eroded their value. At the same time, expenses related to grazing, rail transportation, and interest on savings bank loans increased immeasurably.

In this difficult predicament, Arthur Samuel came across a bankroller from Bremen named Schmidt, from whom he borrowed money. This individual took advantage of the situation and put Arthur under considerable financial pressure. As a result, the Samuels felt themselves compelled to move out of the new house at Bahnhofstraße 2. It is also conceivable that the eviction was mandated by the lenders as a condition for collateralization or as part of the foreclosure process related to outstanding loans.
Despite these major financial problems, the house was not sold at that time.

It appears, therefore, that the Samuels probably lived at Bahnhofstraße 2 until 1928, after which they moved to a building at Bahnhofstraße 25.

As a result of his persecution as a Jew during the Nazi era beginning in 1933, Arthur faced increasing restrictions on his trading business, until his license was ultimately revoked in 1937. Temporarily without income and then pressed into forced labor at various construction companies in Cadenberge, the formerly successful businessman was nevertheless able to keep his house.

In association with the Kristallnacht pogroms of November 9, 1938, the Nazi government's pressure on Jewish citizens was further increased to deprive them of their livelihood. They were required by decrees to sell their businesses and land.

It is noteworthy that, according to his 1947 affidavit, Arthur Samuel did not suffer any violence himself during Kristallnacht, while at the same time Nazis across Germany were injuring and killing Jews and setting fire to their homes. Nevertheless, Arthur Samuel was arrested by the Gestapo the following day and subsequently spent three weeks in prison in Bremerhaven.

Many Jews were taken to prisons and camps during Kristallnacht and harassed or mistreated there, including Arthur Samuel. Many of the men were released at the end of 1938 on condition that they agree to the rapid ”Aryanization” of their property (sale of their houses) and leave Germany as soon as possible. It can be inferred therefore that Arthur agreed, albeit unwillingly, to sell his house so that he could gain release from Bremerhaven prison.

In 1956, responding to an inquiry by the district government of Stade, a note from the municipality of Cadenberge states: "The current business property at Bahnhofstraße 2 used to be his (Arthur Samuel). It is believed that economic hardships led to the sale of the same. A procedure has been initiated regarding this matter. However, the location of the relevant documents remains unknown.” The reasons cited in the memo regarding “economic difficulties” will have played a certain role. However, the main reason for initiating sale proceedings is more plausibly attributed to the forced agreement, while in the Bremerhaven prison, for Arthur to sell the house.

No specific details about the sale process or purchase price are known. There is also no reference to a specific year. Most probably, it was sold between 1938 and 1939 to its new owner, veterinarian Dr. W. Warnecke from Cadenberge. More than a decade later, in 1951, Kurt Kimpel became the owner and established Cadenberge's first pharmacy.

Due to these difficult conditions, the house was probably sold well below its true value, as Arthur Samuel was essentially compelled to accept the contract. Still, even once the war was over, he did not contest the sale and accepted it. The offer by the British occupation forces to return Arthur Samuel's house to him once again underscores the unlawful conditions of the sale.

Residential buildings Bahnhofstraße 25 and Osterstraße 3 (formerly Ostermoor 32)

As outlined above, due to the considerable financial difficulties during the Great Depression, Arthur and Eugenie Samuel had to leave their house at Bahnhofstraße 2 around 1928, moving into what was then a thatched-roof house at Bahnhofstraße 25.

The owner Heinrich Schlichting lived right next door at Bahnhofstraße 27. The building at Bahnhofstrasse 25 was his haulage business. Large draught horses pulled heavy wagons, which were mainly used to transport straw and hay. Since the ground floor was used exclusively for the carriage trade, the only area left for living was a small space on the upper floor. These living conditions were considerably worse than in Bahnhofstraße 2, but the Samuels had little choice in this difficult time. They lived in this house for over ten years.

Despite the persecution and all the worries, Arthur and Eugenie managed to find a better housing alternative.

Probably at the beginning of the 1940s, in the first phase of the 2nd World War, the Samuels moved into a house at Osterstraße 3 (formerly Ostermoor 32). The exact move-in date is not known. This is reflected in the follow-on text of the afore mentioned note from the municipality of Cadenberge which continued as follows: "Mr. Samuel uses Ostermoor 32, a single-family house, here. The owner is the group of heirs of Schaars in the USA (administrator legal counsel Carl Wöst). During the war, the applicant Arthur Samuel already lived at Ostermoor 32". Of great help was certainly legal counsel Carl Wöst, who seemingly provided important support in the sale of the Samuel’s Bahnhofstraße house and also had some connection to the Schaars, a Jewish family which had ostensibly settled in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century.

The childless couple lived together in this house until Eugenie's death in 1956.

Eight years later, our co-author Henry Irwig, Arthur’s great-nephew, visited from South Africa as a young student and stayed in this house with his great-uncle for a few days.

Arthur Samuel died in 1971 at the ripe old age of 91. According to official records, his final place of residence was the district retirement home in Ihlienwörth.

The house Osterstraße 3, where the Samuels spent their twilight years together.
(Photo: Private)