Centralverein Deutscher Staatsbürger Jüdischen Glaubens

The Central-Verein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens (CV) was founded by German Jewish intellectuals on 26 March 1893 in Berlin, with the intention of opposing the rise of Anti-Semitism in the German Empire. Shortly after its founding it had 1,420 members and in 1926 approximately 60,000 members.

The CV's aim was to unify German citizens of Jewish faith, to fight for the Jews' rights as citizens and to combat rising Anti-Semitism. Commitment to the German Nation was an important part of the CV's agenda, the members saw themselves primarily as German citizens with their own religion. Consequently, the CV repudiated Zionism.

Beginning in 1922, the CV published a weekly newspaper, called C.V.-Zeitung ( C.V.- Newspaper ) and continued fighting the rising Anti-Semitic threat. Through publications and conversations with Reichspråsident Paul von Hindenburg and economic leaders the CV tried to call attention to the threat.

In 1928 the 'Büro Wilhelmstrasse' (Wilhelmstrasse Office) was created with the instrumental support of Alfred Wiener. It documented Nazi activities and issued anti-Nazi materials until 1933, when Hitler came to power.

During the Nazi era, the CV was forced to change its name several times. From 1936 onwards it was called 'Jüdischer Central Verein' (Jewish Central Association). After the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass or November Pogrom) in 1938 the CV had to stop publishing its newspaper and the association was prohibited a short time later.

From the guide to the Central-Verein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens: records (microfilm), 1903-1938, (Wiener Library)