Hugo Günzburger

At the beginning of the 20th century, the cigar industry had an enormous economic impact in the state of Baden. No other industry employed more people, certainly not more women. No other industry had more Jewish entrepreneurs. From 1930 to 1933, they owned 12% of all cigar factories in Germany. Hugo Günzburger was one of these successful Jewish cigar manufacturers. In 1910, he founded his company in Emmendingen, where 30–40 female workers produced cigars in a leased tavern hall. The business then grew rapidly. By 1933, Günzburger & Co. employed 1,200 people and was one of the top German cigar manufacturers. The success story ended in 1936 with Aryanization and emigration. This was followed by a difficult new start in the USA, and, after 1945, arduous restitution proceedings. This book tells of Hugo Günzburger’s role as factory owner and business partner as well as his private life as son, brother, husband and father.