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Three issues and a title page of the newspaper "Arbeiter-Zeitung", issued by the "Poalei Zion" (Workers of Zion) party during the Holocaust. These include information about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a call to join the struggle against the Germans, reports from the branches of the organization in Europe and Palestine, and more. [Grenoble, (France)], 1943-1944. Yiddish.
The newspapers before us were printed in the midst of World War II by one of the most prominent organizations of the Jewish underground – the "Poalei Zion" party. Its members were active in Poland, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland and took part in the partisan warfare, document forging and smuggling supplies. One of the most important channels of activity of the organization was the underground publications, the distribution of which the Germans vigorously attempted to prevent. These publications, printed by most meager means and often at risk of death, were used to distribute information about Jewish uprisings, Germany's defeats at the various fronts and Germans' actions in the Eastern camps, and to explicitly call for Jewish rebellion.
Before us are four newspapers printed at various stages of the war in France: two were printed under the Nazi occupation, one during the struggle for the release of France and the last newspaper in free France. The issues include articles about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, calls to join the struggle against the Germans, news items from the "Poalei Zion" branches across Europe and documentation of the connection between the underground organization and Palestine.
1. Title page of issue no. 1, from September 1943 (typewritten) with a long article about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: the conditions prior to the uprising, the balance of power between the parties, the damage the rebels caused the Germans, and more. This article is one of the first reports of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (printed approx. four months after the events).
At the bottom of the page, a telegram that was sent from Warsaw to Palestine: greetings from the rebels to Palestine, a request for assistance and ammunition and an announcement about the death of an additional member. Addressed to "Zerubavel" (Ya'akov Zerubavel?). [1] leaf (one printed page), approx. 27 cm.
2. A festive issue for May 1, from April 1944 (typewritten). Under the name of the newspaper, slogans and calls for an anti-fascist protest were printed: "Death to fascism and Hitlerite barbarity", "Begone imperialism and oppression", "Long live the national and socialist freedom of the Jewish nation", and more. Then a short "manifest" for Jewish youth in Europe was printed, calling to join the struggle, along with reports about party branches in Europe and Palestine. [4] pp, approx. 27 cm.
3. An issue from August 1944 (typewritten and mimeographed). Includes one long article surveying the activity of the Mapai party and the workers' movement in Palestine. Signed "Zerubavel" (Ya'akov Zerubavel?). 4 pp, approx. 27 cm.
4. Issue from October 1944 (typewritten and mimeographed). Includes several articles, among them articles about prisoners of war and She'erit Hapletah (by "H. Binder"), the hatred of Zionists in the Bund movement (by "S. Leifer"), the establishment of a socialist front in Palestine (by "A. Litvak"), the liberation of the Drancy camp; and additional articles. [8] pp, approx. 30.5 cm.
The place of printing is not noted on the newspapers; however, the issue from October notes the address of the publishing house in the city of Grenoble (southern France) and presumably, the newspaper was printed there throughout the entire war.
Condition varies. Good overall condition. Minor blemishes. Tears along edges (most of them small). Tear to on leaf, restored on verso. Handwriting on the leaves of two of the issues. The issue from October 1944 is in good-fair condition, with tears and open tears to margins (small, not affecting text), two leaves are detached and one leaf has strips of tape along the margins on verso. The last leaf is bound upside down.
For translation of the newspapers into English and additional information about the "Poalei Zion" party in occupied France, see enclosed material.