Die Neue Welt
Encyclopedia
Die Neue Welt was a newspaper issued from Alsace
, France
. It was founded in the end of January 1921 by Charles Hueber
, a local leader of the French Communist Party
in Alsace. The newspaper was merged into the l'Humanité d'Alsace-Lorraine, the regional edition of the party newspaper l'Humanité
, in 1923.
Die Neue Welt was revived as a daily newspaper by a section of Alsatian communists in early July 1929. The revived newspaper carried the byline "Deutschsprachigen Tagesorgan der Kommunistischen Partei Frankreichs. Region Elsaß-Lothringen" ('German-language daily organ of the Communist Party of France, Region Alsace-Lorraine'). As Die Neue Welt effectively competed with the established party paper l'Humanité d'Alsace-Lorraine, the launch of Die Neue Welt became a cause of expulsions from the Communist Party. Amongst those expelled was Georges Schreckler, the editor of Die Neue Welt. Die Neue Welt became the organ of the Opposition Communist Party of Alsace-Lorraine
(KPO). At this point, Die Neue Welt had around 1,300 subscribers.
Between 1933-1934 Hans Mayer
, a German-Jewish refugee and cadre of the Communist Party of Germany (Opposition), was an editor of Die Neue Welt. During Mayer's editorship, the newspaper took a more anti-fascist
approach, at the expense of Alsatian autonomism. The newspaper labelled Nazi Germany
as a 'Murder State', and in November 1934 it claimed that Hitler's public repudiation of territorial claims on Alsace-Lorraine was a sham. Die Neue Welt editor-in-chief Alfred Quiri called for the end of cooperation between KPO and pro-German clerical autonomists. With the increased influence of refugees in the editorial line of Die Neue Welt, German authorities banned it from sales in Germany in April 1933. Whilst the Nazis had expressed objections to the Marxist profile of the newspaper, it was primarily the attacks on Hitler's government that were cited as the reasons behind the ban.
The editorial line in Die Neue Welt caused some rifts between the refugees and Alsatian KPO cadres, who were unwilling to give up their Alsatian automonist position for anti-Hitler politics. In 1934 the refugee group left the KPO.
By 1935 the newspaper claimed a circulation of between 2,800 and 3,500, but this claim was likely inflated. The newspaper was running with large deficits (estimated at 10,000 French francs monthly), deficits covered by funds from Germany. Die Neue Welt became frequently quoted in German media, as expressing the feelings of the Alsatian people. In April 1939, Die Neue Welt was merged with Elsaß-Lothringische Zeitung (the organ of the Landespartei).
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was founded in the end of January 1921 by Charles Hueber
Charles Hueber
Charles Hueber was an Alsatian politician. He was the mayor of Strasbourg between 1929 and 1935, and a member of the French National Assembly twice....
, a local leader of the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
in Alsace. The newspaper was merged into the l'Humanité d'Alsace-Lorraine, the regional edition of the party newspaper l'Humanité
L'Humanité
L'Humanité , formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party , was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International...
, in 1923.
Die Neue Welt was revived as a daily newspaper by a section of Alsatian communists in early July 1929. The revived newspaper carried the byline "Deutschsprachigen Tagesorgan der Kommunistischen Partei Frankreichs. Region Elsaß-Lothringen" ('German-language daily organ of the Communist Party of France, Region Alsace-Lorraine'). As Die Neue Welt effectively competed with the established party paper l'Humanité d'Alsace-Lorraine, the launch of Die Neue Welt became a cause of expulsions from the Communist Party. Amongst those expelled was Georges Schreckler, the editor of Die Neue Welt. Die Neue Welt became the organ of the Opposition Communist Party of Alsace-Lorraine
Alsatian Workers and Peasants Party
The Alsatian Workers and Peasants Party , initially the Opposition Communist Party of Alsace-Lorraine , was a political party in Alsace-Lorraine. The party was led by Jean-Pierre Mourer and Charles Hueber. The party was founded in late October 1929...
(KPO). At this point, Die Neue Welt had around 1,300 subscribers.
Between 1933-1934 Hans Mayer
Hans Mayer
Hans Mayer was a German literary scholar. Mayer was also a jurist and social researcher and was internationally recognized as a critic, author and musicologist.- Life :...
, a German-Jewish refugee and cadre of the Communist Party of Germany (Opposition), was an editor of Die Neue Welt. During Mayer's editorship, the newspaper took a more anti-fascist
Anti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
approach, at the expense of Alsatian autonomism. The newspaper labelled Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
as a 'Murder State', and in November 1934 it claimed that Hitler's public repudiation of territorial claims on Alsace-Lorraine was a sham. Die Neue Welt editor-in-chief Alfred Quiri called for the end of cooperation between KPO and pro-German clerical autonomists. With the increased influence of refugees in the editorial line of Die Neue Welt, German authorities banned it from sales in Germany in April 1933. Whilst the Nazis had expressed objections to the Marxist profile of the newspaper, it was primarily the attacks on Hitler's government that were cited as the reasons behind the ban.
The editorial line in Die Neue Welt caused some rifts between the refugees and Alsatian KPO cadres, who were unwilling to give up their Alsatian automonist position for anti-Hitler politics. In 1934 the refugee group left the KPO.
By 1935 the newspaper claimed a circulation of between 2,800 and 3,500, but this claim was likely inflated. The newspaper was running with large deficits (estimated at 10,000 French francs monthly), deficits covered by funds from Germany. Die Neue Welt became frequently quoted in German media, as expressing the feelings of the Alsatian people. In April 1939, Die Neue Welt was merged with Elsaß-Lothringische Zeitung (the organ of the Landespartei).