Three issues of the antisemitic newspaper published in the occupied eastern territories – Deutsche Zeitung im Ostland – “German newspaper in the East”. Issues: October 12, October 15, and October 20, 1942. Rare issues presenting the Nazi occupation as a cultural mission for a new world order – ongoing false reports issued by the Nazis in the occupied territories in order to establish their rule, articles against the Jews. Description of the conquest of Lodz, and more. Rare.
In the issue before us from October 20, 1942, the title page features a central article about what is happening in Riga. The author deals with the topic “the decline and revival of a people” , first the great poverty and unemployment that prevailed in Germany in 1932 and included more than seven million unemployed, he describes those days: “These were the heyday of Jewish parliamentarism which allowed political idlers to make money easily… Jewish corruption flourished behind the scenes…”. The author notes that “in just six years the German radically eliminated the Jewish ghost” and describes how Germany began to thrive economically thanks to the Nazi movement. The right to work proclaimed by the Nazis led to the “howling of the Jews” in his words. And he concludes that just as the art of Nazi economics saved Germany from Jewish sub-humanity, so it will save the countries occupied by it: “The food and raw material base of all of Europe – not just Germany – has been expanded through military actions. German business leaders are already working hand in hand with local rural forces to ensure an increase and expansion of food and raw material sources… The supply situation of Europe must improve. This means increased performance and resilience. In a long-lasting war, this is vital for victory…”. The author continues with antisemitic incitement, writing that Germany did not need the gilding of coins, it needed work, “only Jewish stock brokers made a living from gold… today the countries of Europe are secure under the protection of a strong Wehrmacht…”.
Another article under the headline: “How Litzmannstadt was liberated” refers to the conquest of Lodz, which was intended to free the city “from Polish patronage and Jewish arrogance”, the author describes the retreat of the Poles in the face of German forces that began to spread through the streets “while the panic among the Jews only intensifies”, and describes the festivity with which the swastika flags were first raised in the city of Lodz.
The issues before us also report on the distribution of work cards to workers in the East, on the capture of precious archival material that served Bolshevism for 200 years, on the alleged defeat of Churchill on the various fronts, articles intended to justify the war in order to bring to Europe a reality it has not enjoyed for hundreds of years, on the superiority of German art, and more. The various issues feature articles in the spirit of the new order in Europe, how “Ostland” is actually supposed to look. The various authors repeat the phrase “Ostland” referring to the conquered countries as one unit for the realization of the Nazi vision to turn Europe into an area without borders under the leadership of the Reich, while the newspaper issue sets the tone for life in “Ostland”. There are articles about “the family in Ostland”, the father’s devotion to his family in “Ostland”, etc.
The Deutsche Zeitung im Ostland (DZO) was a daily newspaper published during the war from August 5, 1941 through May 8, 1945 in Reich Commissariat Ostland with the editorial headquarters in Riga. It was distributed in the occupied territories of Poland and the East, including the Baltic States and parts of the Soviet Union. The publisher was Europa-Verlag, a subsidiary of Franz-Eher-Verlag headed by Rolf Reinhardt, under Max Amann. Of all the occupation newspapers established in Poland, the Deutsche Zeitung im Ostland was considered the largest and most important of them. The contents of the newspaper were directed directly by the Nazi Propaganda Ministry and it served as a central propaganda tool aimed both at the German soldiers stationed in these areas and at the local population. It promoted Nazi ideology, provided news from a very biased point of view, regularly reported false news about the Allies, published articles against the Jews, and regularly sought to legitimize the occupation by presenting it as a cultural mission. The Nazi occupier was portrayed in it as one who came to bring welfare and happiness to the occupied population. The “Deutsche Zeitung im Ostland” had a significant role in spreading Nazi propaganda and influencing public opinion in the occupied eastern territories.
Three complete issues. Very good condition.