the Jewish community however was far greater as they were the driving force behind much of Horažďovice's Industrial Revolution. In 1873, Samuel Kohn opened a matchstick factory that produced matches with colourful wax heads in decorative boxes for export to the east. On the adjacent property, a paper manufacturing plant owned by Rud, Firth and Bernard Gans was particularly important as it employed many workers and purchased straw from local farmers. The best known Jewish business in Horažďovice was the vinegar and spirits company "Münz Brothers" founded by Simon Münz in 1831 and famed for its "Münzovka" whiskey. Expanded by his sons, Eduard and Karel Münz, and later by František and Pavel Münz, it became the largest distributor of spirits and vinegar in the region and was the sole distributor of almost all foreign wines and domestic mineral waters. In 1859, Heřman Katz founded what was to become the largest grocery mercantile house in southern Bohemia. In 1907, his son Otto Katz founded a wholesale grocery house which was as prosperous as his father's. A significant number of Jews emigrated from Horažďovice from 1850 to 1938, particularly to the United States, Australia and South America, some inspired by the community's international business perspective. Among them was Sigmund Eisner, who emigrated to the US from Horažďovice aged 21 with the family sewing machine in 1880. During World War II, the Jewish community was deported by German military authorities as part of the Final Solution. 93 Horažďovice Jews were transferred via railway to Terezín on 26 November 1942. Six Jews were deported by other means. Only seven survived. No Jewish community exists in Horažďovice today. Demographics Economy The largest industrial employer in the town is Otavské strojírny, an engineering company. The potato starch factory was founded in 1906 and still operates in the town, currently as the Lyckeby Amylex company. It is the largest producer of potato starch in the Czech Republic. Sights The core of the historic town centre is the Mírové Square. Adjacent to the square is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the castle. In the middle of the square is a Marian column from the 18th century. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses have been preserved in the historic town centre. The fortifications of the town consisted of walls, four gates and a castle. Three gates and fortification walls in the southern part of the historic centre