User:Camilletoomey/Aufbau (journal)

The Aufbau was founded by the German–Jewish Club, which was later renamed the New World Club. The original purpose of the journal was as a monthly newsletter for the club, which included information and helpful facts for Jewish refugees.

The Early Years of the Aufbau

1934

In December, the first issue of the journal was published.

1935

In February of 1935, the Aufbau released its third publication that highlighted the Heinrich Heine, later renamed the Lorelei, Foundation in New York City, New York. Later that year in June, the Aufbau released an issue detailing pro-Nazi groups as a warning for readers in Yorkville. The passing of the Nuremberg Laws prompted the Aufbau to respond by continuing to publish their content. In November, the focus of the Aufbau changed. The focus of the journal shifted from primarily being about the Club and community promotion, to depicting more of what was happening to Jewish people in German cities. The November issue was the beginning of the Aufbau's evolution and expansion to not only New York Jewish communities, but Jewish communities everywhere.

1938

In November of 1938, the primary mission for the Aufbau continued to evolve. This particular evolution in their mission was in response to Hitler gaining control of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. The Aufbau then began to strive for a greater sense of unity amongst the Jewish communities around the world by beginning to report on what the situations were like for those still in Europe as opposed to those who had immigrated to the United States.

1939

In February of 1939, the Aufbau went through another transition. The general tone of the paper became more focused on the realities faced by the Jewish communities in Europe. For example, a particular issue highlighted the story of how an SS officer beat, humiliated, and tortured a group of German Jewish people as well as other acts against German Jewish people in similar situations. This report was specific only to Aufbau because it did not meet American journalist standards because the source of the stories was anonymous. August marked the beginning of a new featured segment in Aufbau, titled "March of Time". This addition to the paper served the purpose of creating a convenient list of news sources for Jewish communities.

Manfred George was nominated as the new editor in 1939.

Manfred George[edit]

The purpose of the publication changed markedly when, in 1939, Manfred George was nominated as the new editor. George took the journal from a monthly newsletter to one of the leading anti-Nazi publications of the German press in exile (Exilpresse). George, within the first 5 years of his tenure, took the circulation of the journal from 8,000 to 40,000. Before Manfred George became the editor of the Aufbau, he was a well-known editor of a Berlin daily, Tempo, and a left-wing journalist in the Weimar Republic.

When George became the new editor, he added three major themes for the Aufbau. These three themes emphasized the connection between the German homeland and the newfound homeland of the United States. He encouraged a strong belief in Judaism and loyalty to the German culture.

In one of the first issues with George as editor, he emphasized the uncertainty present in the futures of Jewish people at the time and encouraged sympathy and neutrality. This issue was released shortly after Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

1940

In 1940, Aufbau faced backlash because they were reporting the violence and incidents occurring against Jewish people in Europe. The backlash revolved around people not approving of their content nor finding it to be credible. The Aufbau editors responded by issuing a statement explaining that other publication’s readers did not necessarily care as much about the suffering of Jewish people as the Aufbau readers did. Furthermore, editors explained that what the competing publications, like the New York Times, were currently publishing, the Aufbau had published weeks prior.

As of February 1940, the Aufbau was continuing to promote club events for the German-Jewish Club. In addition, throughout the summer, the journal highlighted various happenings and occurrences in American politics under the heading, “The Smoke-Filled Room”. The purpose of this was to educate Jewish immigrants in the United States on mainstream American culture and practices, like the presidential election between Franklin D, Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie.

1941

In an effort to continue the support for Americanization, the Aufbau published an Aufbau Almanac called, "The Immigrants Handbook". This “handbook” was used as a how-to guide for new German-Jewish immigrants within the United States. It included 192 pages detailing American life and everything that someone might need to know, like the political system or the lyrics to the “Star Spangled Banner”.

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References

1. Schrag, P. (2019). A generation with double vision, 1933-41. In The World of Aufbau: Hitler's refugees in America (pp. 77–124). Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press.