Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten: Correspondence and papers
Extent and Medium
8 folders
Creator(s)
- Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten
Biographical History
The Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten was founded in 1919 to combat the resurgence of antisemitism during WWI. From the outset it was both a defence organisation and a veterans' association. It endeavoured to be apolitical but was regarded as assimilationist when compared with other Jewish organisations such as the Zionist Centralverein. It became the second largest German Jewish organisation with 30-40,000 membership at its peak, publishing its own fortnightly newspaper, Der Schild.
By 1924, at its national congress the R.j.F. resolved to include physical training for the young. Atheletics and, in particular, boxing were promoted, the latter as a form of self-defence and a means to counter the claim that Jews were weak and cowardly.
As antisemitism increased during the Weimar years, links with other non-Jewish veterans' associations decreased. By the time the Nuremberg race laws had been brought into force, any privileges that the Reichsbund might have enjoyed, by virtue of members' service to the fatherland, were gone.Archival History
The provenance of this material is unknown.
Scope and Content
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Most of the papers in this collection relate to the activities of the Westdeutscher Landessportverband which was affiliated to the Sportbund im Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten, consisting of correspondence and circulars, detailing the activities of the organisation, and shedding some light on the relationship with other bodies such as the Zionistische Vereinigung für Deutschland and the Deutscher Makkabikreis
System of Arrangement
The original order has been retained.
Conditions Governing Access
Open
Conditions Governing Reproduction
R:\Document collections\MF54\Working images\39 frames 313-627
Subjects
- Der Schild
- Sport
- Documents
Places
- Third Reich [1933-1945]