„Kolínská obuv je nejlepší“ - osudy továrny na obuv Zikmunda Feldmanna v Kolíně a jejích majitelů
"Kolín shoes are the best" - the fate of the Zikmund Feldmann shoe factory in Kolín and its owners

Author(s): Ladislav Jouza, Miroslava Jouzová
Subject(s): Jewish studies, Economic history, Ethnohistory, Recent History (1900 till today), 19th Century, Fascism, Nazism and WW II
Published by: Židovské Muzeum v Praze
Keywords: Zikmund Feldmann; shoe factory; Kolín; Great Depression; modernization; Nazi occupation;
Summary/Abstract: The Zikmund Feldmann shoe factory in Kolín, founded from a modest shoemaking workshop, thrived in the early 20th century as one of the progressive shoe factories in Bohemia. The business, involving multiple family members, faced intense competition during the Great Depression. Initially a small workshop established by Leopold Feldmann in 1857, it expanded under his son Zikmund, who modernized the factory with new machinery and increased production. The factory produced a variety of shoes, including luxury items, and exported to several countries. Despite its success, the factory struggled during the economic crisis and eventually closed. The factory building still stands today, repurposed as a hostel. The Feldmann family, including notable figures like Otto Reich, faced significant challenges during the Nazi occupation, with many members deported and killed. The history of the Feldmann shoe factory reflects the broader economic and social changes in the region, as well as the resilience of the family through adversity.

• Details
• Contents