Description

Judaica – Munich, Germany – Cognac / Alcohol:

[Guest Book of the German-French Cognac-Brewery, formally known as Macholl Brothers, Munich]

July 12, 1901 – February 17, 1920.

The history of the distillery shop dates back to 1866 in Heilbronn, when Leopold Macholl joined his brother-in-law, Max Landauer, in a company called Landauer & Macholl. Eight years later, Leopold left for Munich, where he partnered with his brother, Moritz Macholl, to establish a new business. This firm gained worldwide recognition for its quality, versatility, and international connections. In 1921, Ludwig and Theodor Landauer became the legal owners of the firm. In the early 1930s, when Jenny, Fritz, and Max Landauer were managing the company, the new Nazi regime confiscated their business because of their Jewish background.

The present guestbook, created between 1901 and 1920, contains the signatures of hundreds of visitors to the factory. These visitors primarily came from associations related to various fields such as industry, engineering, chemistry, pharmacy, banking, and trade. The book also includes the signatures of numerous individuals, including professors, statesmen, lawyers, pharmacists, medical doctors, writers, women, engineers, and tradesmen of Jewish descent. One particularly noteworthy signature for our industry belongs to Norbert Rosenthal (1874-1944), a Munich-based antiquarian book dealer. His father, Ludwig Rosenthal (1840-1928), founded one of the most significant antiquarian book businesses in Munich. During the Nazi regime, part of their family migrated abroad, while Norbert was deported and ultimately killed in Theresienstadt.

There are several entrances for international visitors from Japan, Paraguay, New York, New Jersey, Paris, Guatemala, Buenos Aires, London, Tanta, and Alexandria in Egypt (Engineer Ralph J. Harle), and Istanbul (Azmi, Director of the Imperial Gunpowder Factory).

The first page features the signature of Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria (1821–1912), who, according to a large inscription, visited the establishment on April 25, 1902. Below this signature is that of General Maximilian von Branca (1839–1906). Following these signatures is another notable one, that of Ludwig III of Bavaria (1845–1921), who visited the premises on January 31, 1901.