Judaism and communism in Russia

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1556 WL 699
Held at	: Wiener Library   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/ ›
Full title	: Judaism and communism in Russia
Date(s)	: 1936-1937
Level of description	: Collection level (fonds)
Extent	: 1 folder
Name of creator(s)	: Jewish Central Information Office

Context

Administrative/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.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

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.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
German and English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in original order.

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

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

Finding aids:

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

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Jewish Central Information Office.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Sources: Weiner Library Website.
Compiled by Samantha Velumyl.

Rules or conventions:
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.

Date(s) of descriptions:
March 2008