First Jews most likely came to Krosno Odrzańskie in the 19^th century. At the time, a religious community was founded in the town. It erected a synagogue in 1851 and owned a cemetery. In 1880, Krosno Odrzańskie had 176 Jewish inhabitants. It was then that the community was the most populous.

In 1932, the synagogue community of Krosno Odrzańskie had 67 members (0.9% of the town’s population), including 20 contribution payers. The community was headed by a board comprising: Max Treuherz (lived at 211/12 Markt), Siegmund Drucker (4 Glogauer Straße), Siegbert Just (211/12 Markt). The post of the cantor, melamed, and butcher was held by Isidor Junger (Älvenslebener Straße, Kaserne). The Jewish administrative bodies had a cemetery division (headed by Max Treuherz) and synagogue division (Siegmund Drucker). In 1930, the community budget amounted to RM 4,900. Seven children were given religious education.

The local synagogue was set on fire by the Nazis during the Kristallnacht, on the night of 9/10 November 1938. In May 1939, there were still 24 Jews living in Krosno Odrzańskie, as well as eight people of so-called “mixed” descent. All Jewish people who did not manage to leave the town were probably deported east and murdered in the Holocaust. The only exception were two Jewish women married to gentiles, who still lived in Krosno in November 1944.

Bibliography

• “Crossen,” [in] The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life before and during the Holocaust, eds. S. Spector, G. Wigoder, New York 2001, vol. I, p. 282.
• Führer durch die jüdische Gemeindeverwaltung und Wohlfahrtspflege in Deutschland: 1932–1933, Berlin 1933, p. 64.