06.Januar 2023

A German-American troika of authors presents a regional history of the Lower Elbe on the Internet "Searching for Traces of Arthur and Eugenie Samuel"
How a Jewish resident of Cadenberge survived the Nazi era –

www.arthur-samuel.de

A recent regional history project addressing discrimination, hatred, and anti-Semitism has been undertaken by three dedicated senior citizens. This project examines the experiences and hardships faced during the Nazi era by a Jewish individual and his wife in the municipality of Cadenberge, located in the district of Cuxhaven. With the German title of "Auf den Spuren von Arthur und Eugenie Samuel" the compilation includes texts, documents, photographs, and graphics, and is now available as an online presentation at the following web address:

www.arthur-samuel.de

aufgerufen werden kann.

Several years ago, brothers Dietmar (73) and Rüdiger (Rudi) Zimmeck (69) were prompted by childhood memories of a neighbor in their home community to engage in a more in-depth examination of this historical period. Following initial coverage in the regional press and on NDR, coincidence brought the two "amateur historians" into contact with Henry Irwig (79), a great-nephew of Arthur Samuel who resides in Boston, USA. From initial email exchanges and subsequent regular video conferences, a plan matured: The diverse information and findings about the local region were to be linked with knowledge of the history of the family and the associated personal data and documents.

The central task of the new team of authors was to answer the question: How was it possible for persons of Jewish faith to endure the cruel period of Hitler's fascism while living in a village on the Lower Elbe? Were there flaws in the Nazis' extermination machinery, was escape from the control systems of the Gestapo and the SS possible, how effective were support efforts from acquaintances and the local community, or had the couple "just been lucky"?

Since the autumn of 2021, information has been systematically gathered with the support of the local mayor, the local heritage curator as well as contemporary witnesses, archivists, libraries, and through extensive private research. This data has been critically reviewed and evaluated in a dialogue across the ocean.
The result is now available on the Internet in the form of a compilation consisting of 12 chapters.

It includes this bitter fact: Before the Nazis came to power in 1933, Arthur Samuel had seven siblings. At the end of the Second World War, only he and an older sister were still alive. Many of his nephews and nieces were also victims of persecution, deportation and murder.

"We are not presenting a strictly scientific work, but a collection of facts, contemporary historical snapshots, memories, family aspects and personal interpretations of the life of the Samuels in the Hitler dictatorship," the authors said in a statement. "Last but not least, the rise in attacks targeting Jewish institutions, as well as other acts of anti-Semitism and similar crimes, underscores the need for all members of democratic societies to increase public awareness of Jewish life, culture and religion and to promote acceptance, tolerance and peaceful coexistence while also actively opposing hatred and incitement. And so, we correspondingly align our work with the recently presented new 'National Strategy of the Federal Government to Combat Anti-Semitism as a Means of Preventing Jew-Hatred’”.

It is thanks to a courageous decision by the Cadenberge municipal council some years back that the gravestone of Arthur and Eugenie Samuel remains standing in the community's cemetery today.

The Internet project will continue in Cadenberge. This particularly includes collaboration with the municipality, where there are plans to name a street after Arthur Samuel, as well as cooperation with the local school, the Schule am Dobrock.

The authors conclude: "The search for traces continues. And it has long since ceased to be a purely historical research endeavor but, for us personally, has to all intents and purposes evolved into a German-American bond of friendship!"

The creation of the website was financed through significant individual donations and by the waiver of reimbursement for research expenses and service fees.