The Schwabacher family lived in Wuerzburg, Germany, at least since 1834. In this year, Anton Schwabacher, Benno Schwabacher’s grandfather, was granted citizenship. In 1833 he agreed to a "Verlobungsabkommen" (an engagement agreement) to Therese Goldsohn. Anton was a jeweler and goldsmith. Benno Schwabacher's father, Adolf, was born on May 10th, 1848. Adolf was married to Babette Schwabacher (née Suesser) and owned a mill. While no more biographical information about Benno Schwabacher's ancestors can be gathered from the documents in the collection, his and Aenne Schwabacher's (née Dannenberg) biography can be reconstructed fairly well.
Benno Schwabacher was born March 3rd, 1889, in Wuerzburg. He was a "Reserveoffizier" (reserve officer) in the Bavarian army and served as first lieutenant in the Bavarian "Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 15" (Infantry-Regiment) during World War I. After World War I, Benno Schwabacher joined the Freikorps Wuerzburg for a few months. The Freikorps Wuerzburg, among other Bavarian Freikorps, fought against the short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic ( Bayerische Raeterepublik ).
Aenne Schwabacher (née Dannenberg) was born March 31st, 1907, in Wuerzburg, to Albert and Paula Dannenberg (née Heilbrun). Benno Schwabacher and Albert Dannenberg later ran a crop and flour business. Aenne went to the Sophienschule in Wuerzburg, a higher education facility for girls. She married Benno Schwabacher on January 9th, 1928.
Benno and Aenne Schwabacher immigrated to the U.S.A. on June, 12th, 1941. In January 1947 Aenne Schwabacher became a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A.; Benno in July 1947. It remains unclear why there is a gap of six months. Benno and Aenne Schwabacher spent the biggest part of their U.S. life in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
From the guide to the Schwabacher Family, Wuerzburg, 1746-1985, bulk 1914-1960s, (Leo Baeck Institute)
