A preferred marketplace

Cadenberge in the twenties and thirties of the last century should not be viewed merely as a sleepy village between the marshland behind the Oste dike and the wooded areas of the Wingst. Its superior location on an old trade route and the fertile soils of the surrounding area, important for agriculture, have favoured Cadenberge's role as a marketplace on the Lower Elbe since the end of the Middle Ages. This situation was further enhanced by the expansion of the country road between Stade and Cuxhaven (later the B 73), which was laid out in 1856, and the connection to the railway from 1881 onwards.

The Cadenberge autumn, cattle, and Kramer markets experienced growing popularity over the years. A report from the "Neuhaus-Ostener-Zeitung" in 1921 states: "In the Bahnhofstraße, on both sides and in the courtyards of the inns, the cattle stood densely packed and when the trains arrived, veritable streams of people poured into the village." The number of visitors over two market days was estimated to be around 10,000. (It is noteworthy that the village had just under 1,300 inhabitants at that time.)

Some of the locals were granted private liquor licenses to provide food and lodging for the many guests. Market balls took place in the halls.

More importantly trade flourished, with estimates suggesting that there were up to 1200 head of horned cattle on the market in the 1920s. The Lower Elbe Railway used up to 40 wagons for transporting the animals.

Legend has it that the prices achieved at the Cadenberge cattle markets likely set the "benchmark prices" for cattle sales throughout the region.

Cattle market in Cadenberge around 1909: View from the entrance to the village into the Bahnhofstraße. On the plot in the front right, the new residential and commercial building of the Samuels was built after the building pictured was demolished; it is today's pharmacy. (Photo from the book of the Heimatfreunde "Wie es einmal war". Photo: Archive Heimatmuseum Geversdorf)
(Foto entnommen aus dem Buch der Heimatfreunde »Wie es einmal war«. Foto: Archiv Heimatmuseum Geversdorf)

Successful business

Perhaps the above economic considerations were the reason why Arthur Samuel and possibly his wife Eugenie settled in the district of Stade from 1903 and 14 years later in the municipality of Cadenberge. Shortly thereafter, Arthur embarked on a career as an independent cattle dealer, achieving considerable business success over time. In the legal proceedings after 1950, related to a claim for benefits from the Federal Compensation Act, Arthur Samuel reported an annual income ranging from 12,000 to 24,000 Reichsmarks for the years 1930 to 1932. These were exceptionally good sales for the circumstances of the time.

Arthur's activity as a cattle dealer apparently took place mainly in the communities on the Lower Elbe. However, his economic proficiency is highlighted in the above-mentioned legal proceedings which report that, before 1933, he also engaged in trading at "distant cattle markets such as Lübeck, Dinslaken and Dortmund".

The Samuel’s economic success is reflected by the fact that they were one of the first in Cadenberge to purchase an automobile. In 1920, they purchased land and in 1923 the new house (later pharmacy) was built at Bahnhofstraße 2.

Not surprisingly, the telephone directories already show a connection for the cattle dealer in the 1920s. And almost as a matter of course, the couple was also one of the first radio owners in Cadenberge. (The device later played a special role because Jews had to surrender their radios at the start of the war; according to a contemporary witness account, the then mayor of Cadenberg and Nazi functionary Karl Klein personally confiscated the device from the Samuels.)

Always fair and helpful

Without a doubt, the business success of the Samuels must be recognized as a decisive factor for their high social reputation in Cadenberge.
However, an examination of the limited documented testimonies and statements about the personality and conduct of the couple in their community reveals another significant reason. The descriptions of the couple's friendliness and helpfulness are almost overwhelming.
Both the interviews with contemporary witnesses and reports contained in other documents consistently confirm the attitude of great fairness and solidarity towards the farmers as business partners.

In contrast to many other cattle dealers, it appears that Arthur Samuel was always fair and honest. For example, according to the memoirs of contemporary witness Jonny Tiedemann, he was acknowledged as being especially supportive of the small farmers, making him popular among them. Arthur was also known for his help with transportation using his car. In addition, he provided young people with supplementary income through auxiliary work at the cattle drive and was generally known for promoting village youth. He and his wife, Eugenie, were regarded as consistently helpful and approachable people who were trusted by the citizens of Cadenberge, especially by the farmers.

Furthermore, the couple was apparently also actively involved and highly regarded within the sociability of club life. This is underlined by the fact that, for the first time in 1930, Arthur Samuel was celebrated as the shooting king of the community.

Boycott and license revocation

The disruption in business life already became evident with the seizure of power by the Hitler fascists in 1933. The early boycott measures against Jews significantly impacted the cattle dealing business of Arthur. Signs were erected in the villages with the message "Jews not wanted". The farmers, who had previously been his business partners, were also required to put up signs on their farms that said, "Jews are forbidden to enter". According to a 1957 protocol from the Oste district court, banners hung up directly in the Cadenberge area carried the inscription: "He who eats from the Jew dies of it". Additionally, SA members attended cattle markets to photograph farmers conducting business with Jewish merchants.

These and other measures made the livestock trade extremely difficult or even impossible, leading to a massive decline in income. Finally, on November 1st, 1937, Arthur Samuel's permission to practice a trade – the so-called legitimation card – was revoked "because of his membership of the Jewish race". From this point on, the couple initially found themselves without any source of income. The goal of the Nazis was the destruction of the business.