GB 1556 WL 699 - Judaism and communism in Russia

Identity area

Reference code

GB 1556 WL 699

Title

Judaism and communism in Russia

Date(s)

  • 1936-1937 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

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.

Repository

Archival history

GB 1556 WL 699 1936-1937 Collection level (fonds) 1 folder 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.

Jewish Central Information Office.

Papers concerning Judaism and communism in Russia, 1936-1937, relate to the Jewish Central Information Office's work to refute the Nazis' commonly held assertion that Jews played a significant role in the leadership of the Soviet Union. The collection notably includes a request from Alfred Wiener for a list of names of Jews supposed to be working in high positions in Russia; correspondence from Jewish Central Information Office, Amsterdam, enclosing list of government officials in Soviet Union, concerning racial origin; pamphlet entitled Materialien zu 'Judentum und Bolschewismus' and a report entitled 'The Jews in leading positions in the Soviet Republic', refuting the Nazi assertion that Jews dominated positions of power in Russia.

Arranged in original order.

Open

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

German and English

A detailed description exists on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Sources: Weiner Library Website.
Compiled by Samantha Velumyl.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

March 2008 Amsterdam Ancient religions Antisemitism Collectivism Communism Eastern Europe Ethnic groups Europe Jewish Central Information Office Jews Judaism Nazism Netherlands Political doctrines Racial discrimination Religions Religious groups Totalitarianism USSR Weiner , Alfred , 1885-1964 , Director of the Weiner Library Western Europe Wiener Library

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Jewish Central Information Office.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers concerning Judaism and communism in Russia, 1936-1937, relate to the Jewish Central Information Office's work to refute the Nazis' commonly held assertion that Jews played a significant role in the leadership of the Soviet Union. The collection notably includes a request from Alfred Wiener for a list of names of Jews supposed to be working in high positions in Russia; correspondence from Jewish Central Information Office, Amsterdam, enclosing list of government officials in Soviet Union, concerning racial origin; pamphlet entitled Materialien zu 'Judentum und Bolschewismus' and a report entitled 'The Jews in leading positions in the Soviet Republic', refuting the Nazi assertion that Jews dominated positions of power in Russia.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in original order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

German and English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

A detailed description exists on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wiener Library

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area