‘Vereinsmensch’ and ‘Sammlungspolitik’: The Activities and Culture of Animal Protection Associations in the Rhineland in Imperial Germany

This article examines the activities and culture of animal protection associations in the Rhineland in Imperial Germany. At the time, the national animal protection movement was mainly concerned with protesting against vivisection and 'humane' slaughter methods, while the main task of the local animal protection associations was to prevent the everyday cruelty to animals that had been taking place since the associations were founded in the early 19th century. This included cruelty to animals such as the mistreatment of horses by coachmen, the infliction of pain on cattle for slaughter, the capture and torture of birds, and the use of dogs as working animal. In the case of the “Aachener Tierschutzverein”, its members were local notables or middle and upper classes such as teachers, merchants and doctors. They presented themselves as guardians of law and morality, seeking to educate and discipline people and to ensure that immoral and degrading behavior such as cruelty to animals was regulated by law and closely monitored by the police. The culture of these associations ultimately contributed to the “Sammlungspolitik” of the German Empire.