The newspaper "Der Aufbau," originally published in German for Jewish exiles in New York, is turning 70 this year.
Seven decades ago, Aufbau was the first source of information for people who fled Nazi Germany for New York. It was printed in German and aimed at people , who emigrated to the United States just before the war.
Two years later the paper started publishing news and other information, for those who couldn't, or didn't want to, "read all about it" in English language newspapers.
Circulation surged to 15,000 around the time the United States joined the anti-Hitler coalition, and going into the 1960s, the paper - whose masthead had included names like Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann and Hannah Arendt - had a circulation of 300,000.
The Aufbau also earned its stripes as an important source of news about the war. It was the first newspaper to report on the genocide in German gas chambers, in July 1942. It was the Holocaust black on white, reported with such detail that the reprinted deportation lists were used as evidence in the Nuremberg trials.
After the war, the paper helped those trying to relocate family and friends by running notices in its "searching for" and "saved" columns.
Under editor in chief Lorenz Wolffers, the editorial staff was enhanced, and in February 2002, Aufbau opened an office in Berlin. Most important, the paper was relaunched in May, 2002, and updated to embrace post-war generations in the U.S., Europe and Israel. The newspaper is now half in English, half in German, and has five categories of articles: politics, Jewish life, Jewish history, culture and, of course, German-Jewish heritage.
Each issue of the newly revamped Aufbau features a focus subject on which several articles are written, with a transatlantic angle, reflecting the range of views and how they differ between continents. There's also an editorial, either by an American or a German writer, published in both English and German. The Transatlantic Page focuses on trends and perspectives by positioning side-by-side articles written by an American author in Germany and a German author residing in the U.S.
However, the mood was shaky for a paper hoping to celebrate its 70th anniversary during the last months.
And now:
Quote:New York, 04/08/2004
Dear Friends and Readers of Aufbau!
In the last few months, we have been conducting discussions with publishers and other institutions with the aim of finding a partnership assuring the existence of Aufbau over the long term.
To our great regret, our efforts have so far met no success.
Since this leaves us with only the means to cover our running expenses until the end of the month, we must forego the planned printing of the April 8 issue of Aufbau.
We are publishing it on the web (www.aufbauonline.com).
In the next few days, we will also inform the public of our situation. As before, the editors and publisher wish to keep publishing the paper. We continue to seek urgently for the possibility of a partnership giving us the long-term support that would enable the survival and future of Aufbau.
We will be in touch with you again at the end of April, and, until that time,
will deal with such practical issues as your subscriptions.
With this letter, we wish to express our thanks that without your loyalty and assistance,
Aufbau would not have been able to exist for more than seventy years.
At the same time, we ask you to assist us, if you can, in the search for a partner. We are available at all times for questions and suggestions. You can reach the editorial office at the usual number (212-873-7400) as well as privately at (860-572-9524), as well as by e-mail:
[email protected]
With heartfelt greetings from New York.
We remain your Aufbau,
Andreas Mink, Editor-in-Chief
SOURCE
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