Jewish Central Information Office

The Jewish Central Information Office, now known as the Wiener Library, was established in 1933. Alfred Wiener, a German Jew who worked in the Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith, fled Germany in 1933 for Amsterdam and together with Professor David Cohen, set up the Jewish Central Information Office, collecting and disseminating information about events happening in Nazi Germany. The collection was transferred to Manchester Square, London in 1939 with Wiener making the resources available to British government intelligence departments. The Library soon became known as 'Dr Wiener's Library' and the name was adopted.

After the war the Library's academic reputation increased and the collecting policies were broadened. Funds were raised, a new board was formed and the Library was re-launched. Work continued in providing material to the United Nations War Crimes Commission and bringing war criminals to justice. During the 1950s and 1960s the library began gathering eyewitness accounts, a resource that was to become a unique and important part of the Library's collection. In 1956 the Library was forced to move from Manchester Square and temporary accommodation had to be found, with some material being put into storage. A new premises was found in Devonshire Street. The Weiner library is the world's oldest Holocaust memorial institution.