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    Home » German Bread

    Bäckerei Jünemann in Bremen - a Family Story

    Published: Jun 27, 2024 · Modified: May 26, 2025 by Marita Sinden · 14 Comments

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    When I came looking for a house to rent in Bremen in 2019, I mentioned to my now-landlady that my father was born into a baker's family. The family bakery, Bäckerei Jünemann, was located in the Neustadt quarter of Bremen.

    "Bäckerei Jünemann?!" my landlady exclaimed. "They used to have the best cheesecake in Bremen!"

    And that’s the story of how she decided to rent her house to us.

    My Grandfather (2nd from left) and his baking team.
    At the far right is my Uncle Heinz.

    The Story of Bäckerei Jünemann

    The story of Bäckerei Jünemann begins with my grandfather, Heinrich Jünemann, who was born in 1910 in Eichsfeld, Duderstadt, near Göttingen. His father, a roofer, died in a workplace accident, and his mother passed away shortly after. Orphaned at just eight years old, he was sent to an orphanage near Hannover.

    At the age of 14, he began a baker’s apprenticeship in Bremen.

    He later met my grandmother, Maria Stolowski, whose family came from Silesia (now part of Poland). They married in 1937, and their first son, Heinrich (called Heinz), was born in 1938.

    During the Second World War, my grandfather served in Italy, where he was injured and sent back to Germany. He and my grandmother went on to have two more sons, Willehad (b. 1941) and Wolfgang (b. 1943)—both conceived during short periods when my grandfather was on leave.

    My grandmother Maria is remembered as a hardworking and efficient woman. Raising three children alone during wartime was incredibly difficult. My Uncle Heinz recalls how, at age six, he came back late to meet his mother in a bunker with his brothers. On arrival, she slapped him and told him:

    “Deine Brüder dürfen das, aber du musst funktionieren!”
    ("Your brothers can be late, but you—as the eldest—must function!")

    In 1944, during a bomb raid, my grandmother spent the day in a bunker beneath Bremen Cathedral. When she returned, their apartment had been destroyed. My eldest uncle remembers pushing a pram with his baby brother through the bombed streets of Bremen, searching for shelter at their grandparents’ house.

    First Bckery at the Schopenhauer Straße
    The First Bakery on Schopenhauerstraße

    After the war, my grandfather briefly worked for the police before leasing a bakery in Bremen’s Schopenhauerstraße in 1947. My father, Bernhard, was born in 1950 as the youngest of the children. In 1959, they built their new bakery on Thedinghauser Straße—Bäckerei Jünemann.

    My grandfather and Uncle Wolfgang
    Uncle Wolfgang and my grandather

    All of my uncles became bakers. My father was the exception—he became a journalist, although as a boy, it was his job to deliver bread rolls on his bicycle.

    Uncles Heinz and Wolfgang became Bäckermeister (master bakers), and Uncle Willehad was a Konditormeister (master pastry chef).

    Uncle Heinz later moved to Berlin and became the CEO of the German Bakers’ Guild. Uncle Willehad took over the bakery after my grandfather passed away in 1972 at the age of 62. After my grandmother’s death in 1989, he continued to run the bakery as its sole owner.

    Tragically, my Uncle Wolfgang died of colon cancer in 1985, at the young age of 42.

    Uncle Wolfgang and Uncle Willehad
    My Uncle Wolfgang (left) and Uncle Willehad (right) as young bakers in the 70s.

    There are some stories from my Uncle Willehad that I found particularly fascinating. After the war, few households had functioning ovens, so people would bring their cakes to the bakery for him to bake. The problem, he said, was that every recipe was different. So, he would rework each dough to ensure it would bake properly—he didn’t want customers to be disappointed.

    His younger brothers were in charge of labeling and organizing the cakes so each customer went home with the right one.

    My Grandmother and a salesperson at the new bakery in the 1970s.

    What I remember

    grew up in Frankfurt, far from the bakery in Bremen. But I remember visiting—the smell of freshly baked bread, and my uncle waking up at 1 a.m. every day to start his work.

    Most of all, I remember his cookie stand. He made the best Schwarz-Weiß-Gebäck, Florentines, Speculatius, and other delicious treats.

    Bäckerei Jünemann-Kekstand
    My Uncle Willehad with his cookie assortment.

    My Uncle Willehad retired in 2004, and there was no one in the family willing to take over the bakery. Small bakeries in Germany face increasing challenges competing with supermarkets. People often aren’t willing to pay what handmade cookies and cakes are worth.

    Today, the premises are leased to a larger bakery, which produces its goods off-site and sells them there.

    I try to keep some of the old recipes alive by posting them on this blog and sharing them with you.

    me and my cuncles.
    From the left Uncle Heinz, Uncle Willehad, my Father Bernhard, and myself at my wedding in Germany in 2013.

    Recipes from my Uncle Willehad

    • Easy Marzipan Cookies Recipe
    • Schwarzweiss Gebäck
      Authentic German Vanilla and Chocolate Cookies (Schwarz-Weiss Gebäck)

    Recipes from my Uncle Heinz

    • Authentic German Stollen
      Authentic Stollen Recipe - a German Christmas Cake
    • Bremer Klaben on a Chopping Board. Two slices are cut off
      Bremer Klaben - a North German Christmas Bread
    • Berliner on a cake stand stacked like a pyramid
      Authentic Berliner Donut (German Donuts)

    More German Bread

    • German Bread rolls
      The Ultimate Brötchen Recipe - Cherished German Bread Rolls
    • Bunny Buns made with yeast
      Easy Bunny Buns
    • German campfire bread Stockbrot
      Stockbrot - German Campfire Bread on a Stick
    • German Pretzels
      Homemade German Pretzels (Laugenbrezeln)
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    1. Monica says

      November 11, 2024 at 6:49 pm

      Thank you for sharing your family history and recipes.

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        November 22, 2024 at 12:44 pm

        You are welcome!

        Reply
    2. Anneliese Ross says

      November 05, 2024 at 11:18 pm

      Thank you for sharing your family history. I can identify with some of your story. My father was a baker too. It is hard work. We also used to take our cakes across the street to be baked. It brings back a lot of memories.
      Love all your recipes. Best wishes, Marita!

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        November 07, 2024 at 12:20 pm

        Yay for coming from a baker families! I am glad you find it interesting 🙂

        Reply
    3. Monica Hailes says

      November 05, 2024 at 12:14 am

      What a wonderful story. And what a legacy you have.
      I am a second generation German living in Queensland, Australia.
      Both my parents were born in Bremen and migrated to Australia in 1952. I was born in 1956 followed by my brother in 1962.
      We still have a few relatives in Bremen, mostly second cousins.
      We have visited many years ago and were captivated by its beauty.
      Thanks for sharing all your lovely memories. It means a lot to me as so much of it reminds me of my upbringing. Whilst born in Australia, so many of our meals were German.
      Monica

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        November 07, 2024 at 12:33 pm

        You are welcome. I am glad you find the story interesting.Best Wishes
        Marita

        Reply
    4. Meriel powell says

      August 12, 2024 at 11:28 am

      Mouth watering recipes and now we understand why you are such a wonderful cook and brilliant daughter in law. We are so lucky to be part of your family and indulge in your delicious meals at your table. A real blessing . What about sharing that amazing secret recipe we had last night?! Thankyou Marita

      Reply
    5. Amber says

      July 22, 2024 at 9:09 pm

      Oh this was lovely to read! Thank you for sharing your family history with us!!! I hope you continue to share stories like this in the future.

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        July 24, 2024 at 1:57 pm

        Hi Amber, thanks! I am glad you found it intresting!

        Reply
    6. Carol Basson says

      July 03, 2024 at 11:51 pm

      How nice to be able to follow your family history. They were all important and loved members of the community. I am looking forward to trying some of these recipes. Have already made some of your others. Many thanks for taking time to write these stories.

      Reply
    7. Joseph says

      June 30, 2024 at 7:47 pm

      Marita, thank you for writing such a beautifully heartfelt article. I truly enjoyed reading about your family and their business. And thank you for sharing those tangible memories with the recipes from your family. What a treasure.

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        July 02, 2024 at 11:03 am

        Thank you Joseph, I am glad you enjoyed the article. Best Wishes Marita

        Reply
    8. Chris VAN EPPS says

      June 30, 2024 at 5:13 pm

      Great family. The apple does not fall far from rhe tree. You are a SUPER baker
      Pretty wedding dress.
      I wish i could cook and bake bring back my roots...No oven and food stamps go too fast for good tasty german food. No one eats my food.
      Take care Alot of health issues in your family becareful yourself.

      Reply
      • Marita Sinden says

        July 02, 2024 at 11:04 am

        HI Thanks Chris thanks for your kind comments!
        Best Wishes
        Marita

        Reply

    Hi, I'm Marita

    Food enthusiast & home cook. I returned to Germany after living in the UK for 20 years. Here at My Dinner, you will find traditional and authentic German recipes with cultural backgrounds.

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