Jüdischer Kulturbund

Jüdischer Kulturbund, or (with the definite article) Der Jüdische Kulturbund, was a Cultural Federation of German Jews, established in 1933. It hired over 1300 men and 700 women artists, musicians, and actors fired from German institutions, and grew to about 70,000 members, according to some authors.Saul Friedländer speaks of at least 180,000.

The organisation was originally named Kulturbund Deutscher Juden (Cultural Federation of German Jews in 1933, but in April 1935 the Nazi authorities – forcing the organisation to delete the term German from the name – imposed a change of the name into Jüdischer Kulturbund, i.e. Jewish Cultural Federation.), also known as the Kubu, was an institution created by unemployed Jewish performers with the consent of the Nazis "for" the Jewish population. The Nazis permitted this association to hide its oppression of Jews. The Kulturbund was one of the most famous examples of Jewish creativity in response to cultural exclusion. It provided a semblance of leisure for its 70,000 members in forty-nine different locals.

After the exclusion of Jewish Germans and gentile Germans of Jewish descent from participating in almost all organisations and public events, the Kulturbund Deutscher Juden tried to provide some compensation, as tried Israelitisches Familienblatt.

The Kulturbund put on theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions, operas and lectures all over Germany, performed by Jewish entertainers, artists, writers, scientists etc., which were no longer permitted by the Nazi Party regime to appear before audiences. Thus, Jewish performers could again earn their livelihood, however scarce. The performances took place at authorized segregated venues with "Jewish only" attendance, meaning Jewish Germans and gentile Germans of Jewish descent and their eventually gentile spouses.

Following the Kristallnacht pogroms on November 9/10, 1938, the Kulturbund was allowed to continue its activities; however, the discrimination and persecution of Jews had driven many into impoverishment. The number of venues and of ensemble members was reduced.

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