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A discussion of the political and social condition of the Jews in Germany, including anti-Semitism, published by the Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish faith. The edition statement is "1. bis 10. Tausend." There is a two page table of contents at the beginning of the booklet. Attached to the verso of the title page is a glued-on insert which requests donations to further the ability of the Central Association to continue its work against rising anti-Semitism.
Central-Verein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens(abbreviated "C.V.") was an organization founded in Berlin in 1893 to safeguard Jewish civil and social equality against the rising German anti-Semitism. The Central-Verein advocated a German-Jewish "symbiosis" and opposed apostasy and intermarriage; it resisted Zionism and internationalism. However, it assisted philanthropic projects outside Germany through ORT, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Jewish Colonization Association (ICA). From its inception the Central-Verein regarded the defense of Jews and Judaism as one of its main tasks. It devoted much energy and funds to publicist and literary activity. It also initiated or subsidized legal action in cases where Jews or Judaism were defamed, and helped to explain the activities and behavior of Jews in economic and public life attacked by anti-Semites. After Hitler's accession to power in 1933 it provided legal advice to German Jews and counsel on economic problems. By official order, the name was changed in 1935 to Central-Verein der Juden in Deutschland ("Central Union of Jews in Germany"), and in 1936 to Juedischer Central-Verein ("Jewish Central Union"). In 1927 the Central-Verein had 70,000 members and was supported by the majority of German Jewry. From 1895 to 1922 it published a monthly Im Deutschen Reich, and subsequently a weekly, Central-Verein Zeitung, which in 1933 had a circulation of 55,000. Its publishing department, the Philo-Verlag, issued a monthly for non-Jewish readers, ran a press information service, and published several learned and political journals, among them Zeitschrift fuer die Geschichte der Juden in Deutschland and Der Morgen, a bimonthly (1925–38), and over 100 books and pamphlets of Jewish interest, including the Philo-Lexikon (1935). The Central-Verein's first chairman was Maximilian Horowitz (held office 1893–1917). His successors were Eugen Fuchs (1917–19) and Julius Brodnitz (1920–36). Ludwig Hollaender directed the Central-Verein from 1908 to 1933. Among others active in the Central-Verein was Alfred Wiener. On Nov. 10, 1938, the organization was closed down by the Gestapo and its last chairman, Franz Eugen Fuchs (d. 1942), became vice-president of the Reichsvertretung into which the Central-Verein was merged. |
