Gerlinde Lorenz is the daughter of Gustav Wittler, who shot this and other footage in Bielefeld and later made an amateur documentary about the town during the years 1938 - 1953.
Brief shot of crowds at a swimming pool (see notes about the history of this footage). Title on screen reads: Die Synagoge brennt! 10.11.1938. [The synagogue burns! 11-10-1938]. Footage of the dome of the Bielefeld synagogue on fire interspersed with shots of bystanders watching it burn from open windows and balconies. The dome is consumed until just the frame is visible, then it collapses in on itself. Shot of crowds of people in the street. Briefly visible on screen is the next title: Der Krieg bricht aus! 1.9.1939 [The war breaks out! 9-1-39].
Kristallnacht burning of Bielefeld synagogue while bystanders watch