A Symbol of Peace and Friendship
A silver salt shaker stolen from a Jewish family by the Nazis has been returned to descendants after 80 years. The item belonged to Adolf Hirsch, who died in the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943, and will now feature in a new exhibition on Landshut’s history under National Socialism.
In 1939, the Nazi regime forced Jewish families across Germany to surrender precious metal objects. Among them was Adolf Hirsch, the original owner of a silver salt shaker. His family, the Meyers (also known as Meier) from Landshut, lost the heirloom during this confiscation. Most stolen items were melted down to fund the war effort, but this piece survived.
The Bavarian National Museum acquired around 350 such objects in 1939 and 1940. Over time, the institution has worked to return them to their rightful owners. Recently, the salt shaker was handed back to Hirsch’s descendants, including Miriam Landor. She described the vessel as a 'perfect symbol' of peace and friendship in Jewish tradition. Landor has since donated the shaker to Dr. Doris Danzer for an upcoming exhibition. Titled *Landshut in National Socialism*, it opens on January 27, marking the return of a lost family treasure.
The salt shaker’s return comes decades after its theft and Hirsch’s death in Theresienstadt. It will now be displayed as part of the exhibition, preserving both the family’s memory and a piece of Landshut’s history. The museum continues its efforts to restore looted items to their original owners.
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