Synagogue (Gotha)

In 1903/04, the Jewish Community built a new synagogue in the former Hohenlohestr. 1 (today Moßlerstraße) in neo-Romanesque style. The architect was Richard Klepzig from Gotha. The synagogue was solemnly consecrated on May 11, 1904 in the presence of Landrabbiner Dr. Prager from Kassel. It was a central building with a turret-crowned dome.
In the pogrom night of 1938, the synagogue was destroyed. In the early morning of November 10, the building was in flames and burned to the ground. The ruins continued to stand for some time. Demolition work began on March 10, 1939, and the cost of the demolition had to be paid by the Jewish community.
Since 1988, there is a memorial at the former synagogue site. The artist Hans Klein from Gotha designed a sculpture in the form of two angled steel profiles to symbolize concentration camp fence posts or the broken window of a house of worship.  
In 2013, plans were submitted to the city to build over the memorial at the former synagogue site as part of the construction of the Residenzstadtgalerie shopping center. A loading ramp is planned in the area of the memorial. As a replacement, a memorial plaque is to be installed at the Gartenstraße entrance.  
Memorial hours have been held every Wednesday since November 2013 by a group of local citizens. The goal of the group is to preserve the memorial site.
The redesign of a memorial was promised on the part of the city. 
In 2016, in connection with the planned development in the area Gartenstraße/Moßlerstraße with a retail center, it was discussed whether two trees at the memorial of the former synagogue should be preserved. These trees were presumably planted in 1904 on the occasion of the dedication of the synagogue. However, the adopted development plan provides for the felling of both trees.