Siegmund Selig II was born in Bischofsheim on February 10, 1871 to Seligman Selig III and Hannchen Wolf. His ancestors were long-established citizens of Bischofsheim. He grew up with numerous siblings and half-siblings at Frankfurter Straße 9 in Bischofsheim.

On October 25, 1906, he married Amalie Lehmann in Weiterstadt. He had daughters Alice Johanna and Erna Frieda with her. The family lived in their house until they fled.

Siegmund Selig fought as a soldier in the First World War, like many other Jewish men. He was awarded the Iron Cross II Class.

Around 1924, when there were still 32 Jewish inhabitants in Bischofsheim, he was the head of the Jewish community together with Karl Kahn.

Siegmund Selig was a peddler, tradesman and merchant by trade. He traded in agricultural products and cattle. Until 1928, he and his brother Siegfried Selig ran a branch in Mainz in what was then Schulstraße (now Adam-Karillon-Straße) trading in country produce. His business went well. At times he employed an accountant and a worker to deliver the goods. His annual income was around 15,000.00 to 20,000.00 RM.

From April 1933, Siegmund Selig had to endure boycott measures. At meetings of bakers and farmers, speakers incited against Jewish traders. In the Reich Pogrom Night of 1938, the mob threw down his farm gate. The situation became worse and worse for the Jewish population.

The National Socialists expropriated his house and property in the first half of 1939 and sold it to Adolf and Anna Jahn. On June 23, 1939, the Selig couple fled from Hamburg on the SS "Pretoria" to Cape Town, where their two daughters were already waiting for them.

In his new home, Siegmund Selig was no longer able to pursue any professional activity due to his lack of language skills. As a result, he had no income and was dependent on his children for support.

The National Socialists caused Amalie and Siegmund Selig damage to their property, house, inventory and loss of earnings amounting to around RM 400,000.00. A container with household goods, silverware and clothing never arrived in Cape Town. The shipping company Konrad Scheid from Mainz was commissioned with the shipment. This left the Selig couple completely destitute. They were also only recognized and compensated for a small part of the damages claimed.

Siegmund Selig II died on December 30, 1955 in Cape Town/South Africa at the age of 84. His grave is located in the Pineland 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town/South Africa.

(Astrid Rühl)