City history up close: Looking for family photos from Abram Mittelmann's studio!

City history up close: Looking for family photos from Abram Mittelmann's studio!

In Leipzig, the audience is currently focusing on the legacy of an extraordinary photographer: Abram Mittelmann. The Jewish photographer, born on May 2, 1876 in the Russian Empire, opened his promising photography company on Löhrs Platz 2 in the city on October 28, 1904. His postcards and enlargements were particularly popular, making him a valued figure in the Leipzig cultural scene. Leipzig.de reports that over 2,000 glass negatives were discovered in the attic of his former shop in 1988, which provide an impressive insight into the everyday world of people at that time.

Mittelmann, who initially began training as a pharmacist, soon turned to photography and quickly achieved a flourishing business. In 1909 he moved with his family into a spacious apartment at Peterssteinweg 15, where he set up a photo laboratory. After World War I, he expanded his business to offer a variety of products for amateur and professional photographers. Unfortunately, the situation changed dramatically when the National Socialists came to power in 1933. From this point on, Mittelmann increasingly became the target of persecution and discrimination.

The dark time of persecution

When the National Socialists came to power, life became a constant challenge for Mittelmann and his family. From 1933 onwards he was increasingly exposed to harassment and was arrested several times. After the night of the pogrom on November 9, 1938, the end of his business was sealed and he and his wife planned to escape. This escape ultimately led him to Belgium, where he was murdered during a raid on the night of September 3rd to 4th, 1942. It is tragic that his family also suffered significant blows of fate during this time: his daughter Nadja was murdered in Auschwitz, while the other two sons Leon and Siegfried survived the fate of refugees.

The over 1,800 portraits that emerged from Mittelmann's estate paint a vivid picture of Leipzig's urban society and its Jewish community. These photographs are now accessible in the digital collection of the Leipzig City History Museum. Wikipedia emphasizes the cultural relevance of these recordings, which are still considered important documents of Jewish history in Germany to this day.

Looking for memories

On the occasion of the rediscovery of these photographs, Dr. Johanna Singer, curator of city and state history, encourages the public to look for more family photos from the Mittelmann studio. This initiative is intended to keep not only the history of the photographer alive, but also that of the people of Leipzig. A special exhibition dealing with the stories behind these images will take place in the City History Museum from June 2026. This event is part of the Saxon theme year “Tacheles”, which aims to shed light on important historical topics. The preparations for the exhibition are generously supported by the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung, the Sparkasse Leipzig and the city of Leipzig.

The legacy of Abram Mittelmann lives on, and the support of the city and its citizens will ensure that these important witnesses are not forgotten. At a time when memories of history are so important, finding more photographs and stories offers a way to preserve cultural memory and reflect on the past. Academic sources prove that the photographic works of Jewish artists during National Socialism not only had aesthetic but also social dimensions.