The first Zionist Congress was convened by Theodor Herzl as a symbolic parliament. Alongside the dynamic development of the Zionist movement, which generated waves of enthusiasm throughout the Jewish public, sharp criticism began to appear about Zionism, claiming that Zionism could not hope to resolve the Jewish problem and would only serve to harm the status of Jewish laborers and sabotage their own recognition as an independent class. Specially printed official postcards were generally produced for most of the Congresses, for several Congresses other mail connected items were used like special covers, letter sheets, postmarks and cachets. First Zionist Congress - Basel - 29–31 August 1897 Second Zionist Congress - Basel - 28–31 August 1898 Third Zionist Congress - Basel - 15–18 August 1899 Forth Zionist Congress - London - 13–16 August 1900 Fifth Zionist Congress - Basel - 26–31 December 1901 Sixth Zionist Congress - Basel - 23–28 August 1903 Seventh Zionist Congress - Basel - 27 July–2 August 1905 Eighth Zionist Congress - The Hague - 14–21 August 1907 Ninth Zionist Congress - Hamburg - 26–30 December 1909 Tenth Zionist Congress - Basel - 9–15 August 1911 Eleventh Zionist Congress - Vienna - 2–9 September 1913 Twelfth Zionist Congress - Carlsbad - 1–14 September 1921