Benoit Oppenheim - Villa Oppenheim Heringsdorf

The Villa Oppenheim at Delbrückstra e 11 in Heringsdorf is one of the best-known examples of the villas on the island of Usedom.

It was built in 1883 as a summer villa for the family of the banker Benoît Oppenheim sen. (1842–1931). It is no longer possible to say for certain who planned the neoclassical white building on the beach promenade, which is adorned with four Corinthian columns, but it is possible that the building was designed by the Berlin architect Hermann von der Hude.

From 1908 to 1912, the artist Lyonel Feininger frequently used the Villa Oppenheim as a motif for his watercolors and woodcuts.

After its expropriation during the Third Reich, the NSDAP used the villa as its local headquarters; it also housed the administrative office of the BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädel ). From 1945 to 1950, like almost all villas in this prime location, the building served as a health resort for officers of the Red Army. Later, the villa was part of the Heinrich Mankiewicz Recreation Home, which was set up by the Ministry of State Security on Heringsdorf's beach promenade. Villa Oppenheim served as Erich Mielke s quarters and was used as a representative guest house.

After reunification, the villa was returned to the heirs of the former owners. Benoît Oppenheim's descendants, who live in Canada, sold the property in 1994.

From: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Oppenheim_(Heringsdorf)