“The Jew, being a revolting and foul creature in the literal sense of the word, delights in filth… Being saturated with hatred and nervousness, he instinctively hates all that is pure, true, and noble…” – two issues of the radical French antisemitic weekly Au Pilori – Pilori – issues dated September 13 and September 20, 1940. Throughout these issues are antisemitic articles and caricatures slandering the Jews, who are blamed for all the ills of French society, and explicitly calling for the eradication of French Jewry. Throughout the war years, the newspaper regularly published the names of influential Jews who should be persecuted, as well as the names of those collaborating with Jews, with the aim of bringing about their arrest.
Au Pilori – a virulent antisemitic newspaper published in occupied France during World War II. The newspaper was founded in 1938, and in 1940, with the rise of the fascist Vichy regime, it became one of the most extreme antisemitic publications in France. Throughout all the pages of the two issues are antisemitic articles aiming to actively incite the persecution of Jews in France. For example, it is claimed that Jews possess 95% of the world’s gold and thereby effectively control the entire economy, as gold is the “security currency” of all nations. According to the publication, Jews have an interest in a world war, as such a conflict increases their numbers relative to non-Jews. Jews are described as the “masters of the press” in France. The issues also call to denounce non-Jews who collaborate with Jews and spread “synagogue slogans, ” as well as Jews who are said to pull the strings of the “high international bank.” It also reports on a “desperate escape by a number of well-known Jews who crossed the Spanish border out of fear of the new order of the Vichy government, ” allegedly stealing with them “a sufficient amount of gold to sustain themselves for a long time.”
Additionally, the issues feature a column titled “Conversations of Jews” in a Parisian café, which includes fabricated quotes from supposed dialogues between Jews who are said to be exploiting the state and protecting their own skin at the expense of the French populace. Further headlines in the issues include: The Rothschilds in London strengthen their ties with the government, and an antisemitic story about the filthy Jew from the ghetto: “The Jew, being a revolting and foul creature in the literal sense of the word, delights in filth… Being saturated with hatred and nervousness, he instinctively hates all that is pure, true, and noble…”.
Moreover, on the front page of the September 13 issue appears a declaration in the name of “The French Guard”: “The French Guard has a mission: to rid the country of the clique of Freemasons and Jews. This is the mission expected of the members of the Guard. Leaders and soldiers must not forget this, otherwise the group will have no reason to exist.”
On the cover cartoon of this issue, a large figure is shown demolishing the columns of a palace, atop which appear the heads of Jews emerging from Stars of David. A stream of stereotypical Jewish figures is depicted fleeing from the rising French crowd, which waves the French flag. At the top of the issue is also an illustration of a fist smashing the head of a Jew with a long nose, accompanied by the caption: “No more talking, the final punch!” Another cartoon shows a local Frenchman pulling a Jew by his beard, with the caption: “Violent antisemitic demonstrations in Marseille and Nice.” On the back page, a cartoon depicts “Madame France” gesturing to the Jews to leave, with the caption: “The decree protecting the Jews has been repealed — that’s good, but not enough. We demand action!…” , and more.
On the front page of the September 20 issue appears an “apology” by editor Jean Lestandi, stating that in previous issues, various individuals were mistakenly attacked as Jews “due to the carelessness of certain collaborators in whom we had placed our trust; they are no longer part of our editorial staff.” It further explains that “The Jewish problem is a global issue, and AU PILORI will publish only facts that are guaranteed to be accurate.” The front page of this issue includes a cartoon showing Jews carrying the corpse of “France” to be buried inside the building of the “British Embassy.” At the top of the issue is an image of a Jew sitting atop money bags, reading an issue of AU PILORI, with the caption: “With these… it will be hard to ‘solve things’.” This issue too features numerous antisemitic articles – such as the claim that France’s honor will return only when Jewish power is destroyed, and a warning to Shanghai after “a delegation from China reported that many Jews had just arrived while fleeing Europe… after having enriched themselves through murder and theft…” On the back page appears a long article about Stavisky, the Jewish swindler who allegedly took control of France through bribes paid to various figures “whose names we publish here”, along with numerous other antisemitic pieces.
Throughout the war years, the editorial office operated from 43 rue Monceau, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The editorial team, funded by the Germans, regularly published propaganda articles targeting specific individuals, those “suspected” of being Jews or Jewish sympathizers, and professions stereotypically associated with Jews, such as dermatologists.
Among the editors were Lucien Pemjean, Urbain Gohier, Robert-Jullien Courtine, Paul Vigouroux, and Paul Riche – the latter a pseudonym of Jean Mamy (producer of the antisemitic film “Occult Forces Under the Government”). Mamy was sentenced to death for treason and executed at Fort Montrouge on March 29, 1949. There also exists a similarly named right-wing Swiss newspaper created by Georges Oltramare, but it is unrelated to Au Pilori.
4 pages per issue. 58 cm. Complete issues. Fold marks and slight tears, light stains. Overall good condition.
