Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

The Provinzial-Verband für jüdische Wohlfahrtspflege provides the greatest
insight into the work of social welfare within the community as a result of the
extensive archival material available which spans the years from and including
1933 through to 1938. 94 Closely tied to the national organisation, the Zentralstelle
für jüdische Wirtschaftshilfe, based in Berlin, it emerged as the chief source of
social welfare assistance for Jews in Magdeburg. Through its affairs it is possible
to chart the economic deterioration of Jews in addition to the changing roles of the
organisation as it attempted to respond to these new and difficult situations.
For the years 1933 to 1934, one of its chief tasks appears to have been as an
employment agency and as an agency facilitating retraining. From 1935 until the
middle of 1937 this situation remained the same, in addition to the matter of
employment for school leavers becoming a serious priority; and from the middle
of 1937 until the middle of 1938 the priority had become the emigration of
children and youth to the USA, England, New Zealand and Australia. 95 The areas
of migration, financial assistance to needy members and accommodation feature
as ongoing matters from 11 March 1934, 96 yet simultaneously voluntary financial
contributions from community members to the organisation continued to support
its valued work. 97
The economic viability of the community’s organisations and institutions in
their plethora of ever-changing roles is clear. Simultaneously, the documentation
94 Correspondence to and from the Provinzial-Verband für jüdische Wohlfahrtspflege
in Sachsen-Anhalt, Beratungsstelle Magdeburg, 11 September 1933 – 6 May 1938,
Bestand 2A2, Signatur Nr. 1315, CJA, op. cit.
95 Ibid.
96 Protokoll der Hauptversammlung des Provinzial-Verband für jüdische
Wohlfahrtspflege in Sachsen-Anhalt, 11. März 1934, ALJGSA, op. cit., pp. 1–3.
97 Correspondence to and from the Provinzial-Verband für jüdische Wohlfahrtspflege
in Sachsen-Anhalt, Beratungsstelle Magdeburg, 11 September 1933 – 6 May 1938,
Bestand 2A2, Signatur Nr. 1315, CJA, op. cit.
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