As in many German towns , on 9 November 1938 , the " Kristallnacht " , the Nazis burnt down the synagogue of the Jewish community in the Lower Street , which had been built in 1857 . Immediately afterwards , Jewish citizens were excluded from public life and society . Thus the store of Elias Lion was " aryanised " after numerous boycotts and taken over by Thomas ( today the Hagemeyer store ) . During World War II the RAF bombed the city twice at night . Two bombs fell behind city hall , and six bombs parallel to Windmuehlenstrasse . On 9 April 1945 the town was captured without opposition by American troops , and thus escaped war damage
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Stadthagen