The Jewish congregation of Frýdek-Místek from 1918 to 1942. Assimilation of Jews to majority society
Abstract
Before the outbreak of World War I the Jewish congregation in Frýdek-Místek saw a period of its apparent heyday. The local Jews declared their adherence to the Jewish nationality; this encouraged the local followers of Zionism to try and establish a Zionist association here.
In the twenties, however, the Zionists failed to create a compact group within the local Jewish community. The economic foundations of the Jewish congregation were then disrupted by the Great Depression.
The rise of Nazi power reflected also in the congregation in spring 1938 as several Jewish refugees came here from Austria. Other refugees joined the community in late summer and early autumn in connection with the Nazi occupation of Sudetenland.
In spite of that most Jews stayed in the city. Their tragic fate was eventually closed with the transports to concentration camps that took place from September 1942 to early 1945.