{"id":2336,"date":"2023-12-04T13:59:58","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T12:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kunst-raub-rueckgabe.de\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&p=2336"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:20:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T13:20:57","slug":"berolzheimer","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/kunst-raub-rueckgabe.de\/en\/biografie\/berolzheimer\/","title":{"rendered":"In the salon of Untergrainau"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr Michael Berolzheimer is a lawyer by profession but his real passions are art and genealogy. He is from an old-established family from Franconia in southern Germany.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Berolzheimers: entrepreneurs and philanthropists<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Large<\/div>
The Berolzheimerianum in F\u00fcrth, today the home of the Com\u00f6die F\u00fcrth theater.<\/div>

City of F\u00fcrth \/ Norbert Mittelsdorf<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Historic<\/div>
It was originally an educational center.<\/div>

Archive F\u00fcrthWiki. cc-by-sa-3.0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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I<\/span>n the historic city center of F\u00fcrth is a magnificent Jugendstil building known as the Berolzheimerianum. The Berolzheimers, a Jewish manufacturing family, founded the building in 1904. It contained a library, a reading room, concert auditoria, and exhibition space. With the building the Berolzheimers wanted to give workers free access to books, entertainment, and education.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Oil<\/span>
Heinrich Berolzheimer (1836\u22121906) was made an honorary citizen of F\u00fcrth and Nuremberg in recognition of his generous donations.<\/div>

Jewish history in F\u00fcrth (Bavaria), http:\/\/www.alemannia-judaica.de\/fuerth_synagoge.htm. cc-by-sa-3.0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

From Franconia to the USA<\/h3>\n

The Berolzheimers are pencil manufacturers. Michael Berolzheimer\u2019s father Heinrich had the courage and vision to expand his business from Franconia to the USA as early as 1868. Two of his sons, Emil und Philipp, emigrate to the USA, where they continue to run the company. Michael, who is born in 1866, is not tempted to move that far away. Instead he chooses to settle in Munich, where he studies law.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Lawyer in Munich<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Historical<\/span>
While a student in Munich, Michael Berolzheimer lives at a number of addresses including Herzogspitalstra\u00dfe. <\/div>

Munich City Archive<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

In 1891 Michael Berolzheimer completed his law degree. The following year, at the age of 26, he was awarded a doctorate. He established his own legal practice in the center of Munich. In 1913 the honorary title Hofrat was conferred on him by the Prince Regent of Bavaria, later King Ludwig III.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Belated marital bliss<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Black<\/span>
Melitta Schweisheimer, around 1900. When she met Michael Berolzheimer, she was still married to Eugen Schweisheimer, a Munich banker.<\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Melitta<\/h3>\n

In the 1890s Michael Berolzheimer meets Melitta Schweisheimer, who is a year younger than him. She has three children and so it would not have been an easy decision for her to separate from her first husband, above all because this would mean losing custody of her children. Yet she goes ahead and divorces her husband in 1903.<\/p>\n

Melitta and Michael marry the same year in London. They have their wedding abroad because their union had not met with approval. As a divorcee, Melitta is initially not welcome in the Berolzheimer family. However, with time they let go their grudge against her and accept Melitta as a sister-in-law.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/span>
Melitta and Michael Berolzheimer with the grandchildren Elsieliese and Peter, 1928.<\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

M<\/span>elitta and Michael have a happy marriage, travel extensively, and pursue common interests. They do not have any children together, but Michael takes care of Melitta\u2019s children from her first marriage \u2013 Waldemar, Nelly and Robert \u2013 and the grandchildren.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A retreat in Untergrainau<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Black<\/div>
The house \"H\u00fcgel am Weg\" in Untergrainau.<\/div>

Archive Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Colour<\/div>
Today the property is a guest house. <\/div>

Photo: Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Colour<\/div>
Some of the historic furnishings have been preserved.<\/div>

Photo: Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rural idyll at the foot of the Alps<\/h3>\n

In 1908 the Berolzheimers spent their first summer in their country house \u201cH\u00fcgel am Weg\u201d (Hill by the Wayside) in Untergrainau, which had just been completed. The house is located on a hill around 100 kilometers south of Munich in the Werdenfelser Land region, between the station and the Eibsee lake.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\u201cWe really feel at home here; the fresh air is wonderful, the countryside splendid, and our little house is delightful.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>

Michael to his brother Philip and sister-in-law Clara, August 3, 1908<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/div>
The Berolzheimers\u2019 living room at their home \u201cH\u00fcgel am Weg\u201d.<\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Colour<\/div>
View of the living room today with the Delft tiles on the wall. <\/div>

Photo: Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The summer retreat becomes home<\/h3>\n

At the time, the foothills of the Alps are a magnet not only for daytrippers and tourists, but also for well-to-do city-dwellers, who have vacation homes built here.<\/p>\n

Yet for the Berolzheimers, Untergrainau is more than just somewhere to spend a summer vacation. Their family life centers around the country house. They welcome guests there including musicians, painters, writers, and theologians. In 1909 they therefore decide to make Untergrainau their main residence.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/span>
Michael Berolzheimer in his study in Untergrainau, around 1935.<\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The reclusive scholar<\/h3>\n

From this point, Michael Berolzheimer devotes himself to studying the genealogy of Jewish families in Bavaria. He finds important sources through his own archival research and through extensive correspondence with genealogists and scholars. Today his documents are a key resource for research into Franconian-Jewish genealogy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/div>
Design for the Grainau war memorial on a contemporary postcard.<\/div>

Archive Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Colour<\/div>
The memorial is still on the outside wall of the Catholic parish church in Obergrainau. The names of the soldiers who died in the Second World War were later added to it.<\/div>

Photo: Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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World War One<\/h3><\/div>

World War One leaves its mark on Untergrainau too. These are anxious times: Melitta\u2019s two sons, Robert and Waldemar, serve at the front and are wounded.<\/p>\n

Melitta sets up a depot in the family\u2019s country residence for letters and parcels to be sent out to the soldiers and makes rooms available for a field hospital. The Berolzheimers provide people in need with food and clothing. Michael provides legal assistance to Grainau residents, often free of charge.<\/p>\n

After the war, Michael Berolzheimer and the village\u2019s Catholic priest provide the impetus for a memorial dedicated to the 20 fallen soldiers from the local community.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Art collector and expert<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Carl<\/a><\/span>
Carl Hummel: Waterfall in the Giant Mountains (Kochelfall). Restituted in 2011. \ud83d\udd0d Move the mouse over the picture to enlarge it<\/div>

Photo: Galerie Arnoldi-Livie \ud83d\udd0d Hover over the image to enlarge <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The art collection<\/h3>\n

Michael Berolzheimer is an avid art collector. He mainly collects drawings, watercolors, and prints. He also owns a number of 19th century paintings and sculptures.<\/p>\n

Berolzheimer\u2019s expertise is held in high esteem in the Munich art scene. He works in an honorary capacity for the acquisitions committee at the city\u2019s Alte Pinakothek gallery and for the Graphische Sammlungen (State Collection of Prints and Drawings).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/div>
Auguste Rodin: St John the Baptist, 1878, here in the garden of the country house in Untergrainau. <\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Colour<\/div>
The bronze sculpture is one of the works of art that the Berolzheimers were able to take with them to the USA. Today it is in the Saint Louis Art Museum.<\/div>

Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum Purchase 2:1946<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"On<\/div>
Auguste Rodin: The Man with the Broken Nose.<\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Two Rodins for Untergrainau<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>

In 1912 Michael and Melitta Berolzheimer visit the renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin in France and buy two bronzes. The larger-than-life-size figure Saint Jean-Baptiste (John the Baptist) henceforth graces the garden at their Untergrainau residence. The second bronze, L'homme au nez cass\u00e9 (The Man with the Broken Nose), is kept on Michael Berolzheimer\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Expulsion<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Black<\/span>
Swastikas also became a dominant feature of Grainau, here on display at a hotel in the neighbouring village of Hammersbach, 1935.<\/div>

Archive Peter Schwarz, Grainau<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Red<\/span>
Since 1938 this and other similar slogans are included in the brochures and information sent out in response to inquiries from aspiring holidaymakers. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen there is not a single shop without a sign prohibiting entry to Jews.<\/div>

Garmisch-Partenkirchen market archive, file index 131<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The idyll is shattered<\/h3>\n

When the National Socialists assume power in 1933, life changes in Untergrainau too. Jews are increasingly excluded from public life. Although Berolzheimer is held in high regard on account of his charity work and his commitment to social causes, in 1937 his name is removed from the address book of his home town. Even his efforts to establish the memorial to the fallen soldiers are brought into disrepute as antisemitic sentiment takes hold.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Context<\/p>\n<\/div>

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<\/i>Takeover of power<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Black<\/span>
Melitta\u2019s son Waldemar had already emigrated to the USA in 1936 with his wife and their two children, Elsieliese and Peter. Michael and Melitta Berolzheimer saw them in New York in 1937, a year before their own emigration. <\/div>

Family collection<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Refuge with American relatives<\/h3>\n

On 25 July 1938 Melitta und Michael Berolzheimer leave Untergrainau just in time and emigrate to the USA. Just two days later the Landratsamt (District Administration) orders the confiscation of their passports, which would have prevented them from leaving the country. The Berolzheimers are able to take their household goods, books, and papers with them, along with part of their art collection. In New York they are received and supported by Michael\u2019s brother Philip and his wife Clare.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>