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Smith, Dana

History

2012

M.A.

The Judischer Kulturbund in Bayern (Jewish Cultural League in Bavaria) was founded in 1934 as a response to Nazi attempts at dissociating Jews from the Reich's cultural life. Based on the example of the Kulturbund Deutscher Juden in Berlin, the Kulturbund in Bavaria was conceptualized as a self-help organization to employ out-of-work Jewish artists and offer Jewish community members an alternative to state-run cultural events. During its four-year tenure, Bavaria's Kulturbund served ten cities and organized more than 85 cultural events. This thesis addresses the relationship between local Jewish leaders and Nazi officials, the evolution of Nazi Jewish cultural policy, and debates regarding the creation of a Jewish cultural identity in the Reich's Kunststadt. These debates, both internal and external, were reflected in thematic shifts within the Kulturbund's program, particularly in the areas ofmusic and the visual arts. Specific attention is also given to hitherto under-studied areas of Jewish cultural life under Nazism- including varying regional experiences outside of Berlin, and cultural perfonnances particular to local traditions and customs.