Two Lists of Jewish Craftsmen and Businesses in Berlin in the 1930s – Issued by the Association of Jewish Craftsmen ...

Two Lists of Jewish Craftsmen and Businesses in Berlin in the 1930s – Issued by the Association of Jewish Craftsmen, Shortly Before the Destruction of Jewish Businesses in Germany
Two membership directories (Mitglieder-Verzeichnis) which were issued by the Verein selbständiger Handwerker jüdischen Glaubens zu Berlin [Association of Self-Employed Craftsmen of the Jewish Faith]. [Berlin, 1935-1937]. German.
Two handbooks containing names of more than a thousand Jewish craftsmen and businesses in Berlin and documenting Jewish commerce under Nazi rule, shortly before the destruction of the Jewish economy in Germany.
The Verein selbständiger Handwerker jüdischen Glaubens was established in Germany in 1895, in order to promote Jewish craftsmen and fight against the negative image they had. The organization provided its members with legal support, managed a loan fund, distributed allowances to those in need and every several years, published handbooks listing the Jewish businesses affiliated to the organization's main chapter in Berlin.
When the Nazis seized power, approx. half of the Jewish craftsmen in Germany lived in Berlin. Already in 1933, a boycott of Jewish products and businesses was declared and with it started a consistent process of economic oppression and social isolation of the Jews of Germany. As their situation worsened, more and more Jews joined the union of craftsmen. The membership directories that it published enabled them to compensate for the loss of German clients due to the acquaintance with new Jewish clients. Despite the efforts of the organization, during the 1930s, most of the Jewish businesses in Germany closed down. In early 1938 Jews were banned from owning businesses; and following the Kristallnacht, Jewish businesses were completely wiped out. In the same year, the director of the association of Jewish craftsmen, Wilhelm Marcus, fled Germany and the organization ceased to exist.
These are the two last membership directories published by the association of Jewish craftsmen during the 1930s, documenting the craftsmen and small businesses in the Jewish community of Berlin: a handbook with the names of the organization members in the years 1934-1935 and a handbook with the names of the members in 1936-1937. The directories are alphabetically ordered, divided according to the type of business and include the names of the members and their addresses. The first handbook also contains many advertisements for the various businesses and a leaf meant for adding addresses and additional details (filled-in with pencil).
Two handbooks. 328 and 208 pp, approx. 15.5 cm. With the original paper covers. The 1935 booklet is in good condition, with minor blemishes (mainly to cover). The 1937 booklet is in good-fair condition, with a detached cover and several detached leaves; small tears to the edges of several pages. Stamp on the cover of one booklet and on the title page of the other booklet.
OCLC lists only few copies of both handbooks.