Bernhard Rothschild

Bernhard Rothschild was a Jewish merchant whose life connected Netra, Hanau and Frankfurt through family, business and community. Frankfurt became his working city. With his brother Isidor, he opened Samuel Rothschild Söhne, a business dealing in linen and manufactured goods. Bernhard later became sole owner of Rothschild & Co. He also became a partner in a company producing bottles and closures. His family lived at addresses including Hermesweg, Herderstraße, Bergweg, Wittelsbacher Allee and Karl-Albert-Straße 25. The family moved often. His wife Lina and daughters Lilly, Martha and Else shaped a household linked to Philanthropin, Jewish welfare and Frankfurt’s community life. The Nazi era brought persecution, separation and emigration from Frankfurt towards Argentina, the United States and England. Stolpersteine at Karl-Albert-Straße 25 preserve the family’s connection to Frankfurt and remember lives disrupted by persecution. Bernhard died aboard the Portuguese ship Nyassa during the family’s attempted escape towards Argentina, while Lina reached Buenos Aires. His story places Jewish family life, commerce and persecution within Frankfurt’s history.