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Max Schönmann * 1873

Eilenau 46 (Wandsbek, Eilbek)

HIER WOHNTE
MAX SCHÖNMANN
JG. 1873
DEPORTIERT 1941
ERMORDET IN
RIGA

Max Schönmann, born 7/10/1873 in Brest-Litowsk, White Russia, deported to Riga on 12/6/1941

Eilenau 46

Max Schönmann was one of the ten children of a family of Jewish origin. He came to Hamburg as a young man to setup his own business. In 1905, he joined the German-Israelitic Community, who listed him as stateless. At that time, he lived at Fröbelstrasse 11 in the Rotherbaum district. In 1906, he married Helene Samuel, born 1875 in Hamburg, daughter of the "agent” and export merchant Joseph Samuel and his wife Nanni. Helene Samuel’s family was also Jewish. According to Helene and Max’ marriage certificate, Max Schönmann was a linen manufacturer when he married. The Hamburg address book of 1907 lists him with the addendum "linen factory”, and that year’s telephone book features him with the codicil "shop specialized in men’s and women’s linen.” In 1906, the Schönmanns moved to Lübecker Strasse 63 in the Hohenfelde district.

It seems that Max Schönmann only ran his linen store for a short time. Already in 1908, the telephone book lists him as "real estate and mortgage agent.”

His field of business expanded with time; the Hamburg address books contain varying areas of activity, e.g. "commodity and real estate broker”, "financing of new buildings”, "facility management”, "wood and cellulose broker”, "commodity broker”, "im-and export trade representations”, "machinery of all kinds, Bicycles and accessories, chemicals, country products”, and also "agency and commission for im-and export.” In 1916, Helene Schönmann received power of attorney in her husband’s company. After moving to Hamburg from Königsberg, Max Schönmann’s brother Moritz was a partner in the general partnership (oHG) from October 1921 to March 1923 (cf. Herbert Schönmann). Herbert’s reason for leaving the family business is unknown.

Max Schönmann’s business was at Lübecker Strasse 15 until 1930. In 1931, it was temporarily located in a two-room office accommodation at Neue Gröningerstrasse 8/10 in Hamburg’s Old Town. From 1934 to 1934, the address of the company now reduced to "real estate agent” was Eilenau 46 in the Eilbek district. According to the Hamburg address book, this was also the home Max and Helene Schönmann.

From 1933, the discrimination of Jewish businesses increasingly affected Max Schönmann’s company. According to his culture tax card, it was deleted in 1934. This probably meant that the company in effect ceased its commercial activity in that year. In the company register, the formally still existing business was only deleted on June 23rd, 1939, after Jews had been banned from working as real estate agents.
A heavy blow hit Max Schönmann on December 31st, 1939, when his wife Helen died at the Barmbek General Hospital at the age of 59.
We could determine if Max Schönmann was able to make a living after 1933. The Jewish Religious Association classified him as without assets, and approved monthly support payments of 75 RM.

At the time of the census of May 1939, Schönmann’s home address was Rappstrasse 6. Later, he moved to Bornstrasse 8. We have no details on his moves to Rappstrasse and Bornstrasse.

On December 6th, 1941, Max Schönmann, aged 68, was deported to Riga. After that, there were no more signs of life from him.


Translation by Peter Hubschmid 2018
Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: January 2019
© Ingo Wille

Quellen: 1; 4; 5; 6; 9; AB; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 8645-262/1906, 7170-17/1935; 351-11 Amt für Wiedergutmachung 38354, 11493, 4009; 522-1 Jüdische Gemeinden 922e Deportationslisten Band 3; Handelskammer Hamburg, Archiv (Handelsregister).
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