Jean Wittenberg collection, 1940-1945

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Summary

Creators:
Wittenberg, Jean
Abstract:
Pamphlets and serial issues, clandestinely issued in German-occupied Belgium during World War II, relating to the Belgian resistance movement
Extent:
3 manuscript boxes (1.3 Linear Feet)
Language:
In French and Flemish
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jean Wittenberg Collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

In 1944, shortly after the liberation of Brussels, an exhibition of the Belgian clandestine press was organized at La Maison du Peuple de Schaerbeek, a suburb of Brussels. The Maison du Peuple is commonly known as the seat of the socialist party. The exhibits were chiefly made up with clandestine periodicals circulated during the occupation by the leftish elements. I noticed at that time that the most important contribution to the exhibition originated from a certain Jean WITTENBERG, a socialist propagandist.

I succeeded in getting in touch with Mr. Wittenberg and was allowed to investigate his collection which was grouping as much as 71 different clandestine periodicals. Mr. Wittenberg finally agreed to sell his entire collection to the Hoover War Library for Belgian Francs 10.000.- viz about $230.

Mr. Wittenberg's personality is quite fascinating: In December 1940 he was already selling 14 different clandestine papers. He was arrested in January 1942, tortured and jailed by the Gestapo. Six months afterwards, he was liberated owing to lack of evidence. He soon resumed his clandestine activity and did not hesitate to hide two Jewish children in his Brussels home. But in June 1944 he was again arrested and sent to a concentration camp in Northern France from where he escaped on August 3rd.

More detailed information on Jean Wittenberg and his war adventures may be found in this file, viz: two articles of the Belgian daily paper Le Peuple Oct. 13 and 14, 1944, and a few pages of personal memoirs Jean Wittenberg wrote at my request.

Jean Wittenberg being a socialist propagandist his collection is exceptionally rich in pamphlets, cartoons, periodicals circulated during the German occupation by the leftish elements:

To consult the collection, please use the inventory prepared by Jean Wittenberg himself.

The periodicals have been grouped according to political tendencies and not according to alphabetical order.

The figures in red pencil match with the figures labeled on each file.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jean Wittenberg Collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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