Shoe store Hirsch

The Hirsch shoe store was founded by Moritz Hirsch before World War I and was originally located in the family's own house at Hochstraße 50. When Moritz Hirsch died in 1927, his widow Meta Hirsch needed the support of their son Rudolf Hirsch to continue the business. He was only 20 years old at the time. He moved the business to a rented store at Hochstraße 130. Even during the Great Depression, the shoe business was still expanding and employed 30 people. Nevertheless, the company had to contend with sales losses.

Directly after the National Socialist takeover, the store became the target of violent assassinations. The reason was that Rudolf Hirsch was not only Jewish, but also a member of the KPD. Rudolf Hirsch fled Germany a short time later. In order to provide him with a financial livelihood, Meta Hirsch sold the business as early as May 1933 to the shoe merchant Gustav Grüterich and his business partner Klara Klauser on terms that were unfavorable for her. The Hirsch shoe store was one of the first Aryanized businesses in Krefeld. The shoe store Grüterich exists until today in the former premises of the Hirsch family.