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 acquired their first residential and commercial property in 1919 at Langenstraße 18, but this acquisition was evidently considered a "bad purchase" because the building was sold in 1924, thereafter changing hands several times.

Houses and land at Finkenhörne 3 – 5

As early as 1920, the next real estate acquisition took place with the purchase of houses and land at Finkenhörne 3 – 5. This purchase was much more purposefully planned due to the proximity of the properties to the large cattle markets that were regularly held along the entire Bahnhofstraße. On the new property, cattle bought or intended for sale were kept in barns.

Residential and commercial building Bahnhofstraße 2 (still 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 was 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".

We do not have any information about the construction costs.

The couple lived in this small "villa" from 1923 to 1937 or possibly 1938.

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

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, it was difficult for the formerly successful businessman to maintain his house.

In association with the 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 remarkable that the Samuels did not experience any acts of violence against themselves or their house on the day of the pogrom, while at the same time the Nazis injured or killed Jews throughout Germany and set fire to their houses.

Nevertheless, Arthur Samuel was arrested by the Gestapo the following day and subsequently spent three weeks in prison in Bremerhaven.

Arthur and Eugenie Samuel were basically forced to sell their house at Bahnhofstrasse 2, likely between 1937 and 1938, when it was sold to the new owner, veterinarian Dr. W. Warnecke. Subsequently, in 1951, Kurt Kimpel became the owner and established the first pharmacy in Cadenberge.

Unfortunately, we lack detailed information about the building’s value, sale price, and the circumstances surrounding the sale. Arthur Samuel himself was reluctant to comment on the background to the transaction, even after 1945.

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.”

Although the specifics are not known, it is our view that this procedure may have been an attempt to facilitate a nominally fair sale of the house at the municipal level in order to address the interests of the seller and the buyer, as well as the municipality of Cadenberge. For these reasons, the sale of the house was presumably intended to appear as a standard private transaction, unrelated the policies of the Nazis.

According to the tax consultant Rudolf Wöst who, at an advanced age, died a few years ago, the reason for Arthur Samuel's house sale was a current need for money, allegedly because "Brother-in-law (?) Schmidt from Bremen" had fallen into debt because he had "speculated".

This statement seems to have been part of the mutually agreed framework for the sale negotiation, intended to secure an independent resolution within the municipal jurisdiction and prevent entanglement in the worsening political situation.

A "brother-in-law (?) Schmidt from Bremen" is unknown in Arthur Samuel's family circle.

For Arthur Samuel, however, this way of selling the house was probably a better solution than being forced to accept even lower proceeds and probable anti-Semitic defamation at an imposed public auction.

In a recent report in the "Niederelbe-Zeitung", a contemporary witness 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."

This statement can also be interpreted as an indication that, due to the severe political persecution, Arthur Samuel opted for a coordinated house sale procedure at the community level.

Arthur Samuel, along with the other parties involved, strictly adhered to the secrecy of the terms of sale even after the end of the war in 1945.

Residential buildings Bahnhofstrasse 25 and Osterstrasse 3 (formerly Ostermoor 32)

The specific date of the move out of the house at Bahnhofstrasse 2 following its sale is not clearly documented. It is thought to have occurred in either 1937 or 1938.

Due to the pressure of political persecution by the Nazis and the rushed sale of the house, Arthur and Eugenie Samuel first moved 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 a 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.

As a result, there were soon considerations to find a better living option despite all the adversities. Legal counsel Carl Wöst, who will likely have played an important role in the sale of the house, provided important assistance.

The Samuels probably moved into the house at Osterstrasse 3 (formerly Ostermoor 32) at the beginning of the 1940s. The precise date of the move remains unknown. In the abovementioned letter from the Cadenberge town hall, the transcript continues: "Mr. Samuel uses Ostermoor 32, a single-family house, here. The property is owned by the community of heirs of the Schaars in the USA (administrator legal counsel Carl Wöst). During the war, the applicant (Arthur Samuel) already lived at Ostermoor 32." The Schaars were a Jewish family who had apparently 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-editor 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 dwelling at Osterstraße 3, where the Samuels spent their twilight years together.
(Photo: Private)