Die Welt

Die Welt ("The World") was a weekly newspaper founded by Theodor Herzl in May 1897 in Vienna. It was designed to promote Zionism and boldly proclaimed itself to be a Judenblatt (Jew-paper). From 1897 to 1914 it was the principal organ of the Zionist movement. From 1897 to 1900, the paper was edited by Erwin Rosenberger. History Die Welt was published weekly in Herzl's own publishing house. He developed the idea in May 1897, noting in his journal that Die Welt would be the definitive mass-circulation outlet for the Zionist Organization, and that such a journal was "a necessity that can no longer be ignored." The first issue appeared on 4 June 1897. Shortly before, on 14 May, Herzl wrote to his supporter Max Nordau, joking that "The Neue Freie Presse is like my legitimate wife. With Die Welt I am maintaining a mistress – I can only hope that she will not ruin me". The editorial in the first issue stated that Die Welt promoted "the reconciling solution to the Jewish question". Production was based initially in Vienna, but later moved to Berlin. Content The journal's circulation varied widely, usually reaching at least 3,000 copies sold, and sometimes more than 10,000 copies. Die Welt had a mix of content. As well as information about the Zionist movement and news of Jewish settlement in Palestine, it reported on general news relevant to Judaism or Zionism, including the spread of anti-Semitism. The Dreyfus Affair was unfolding during its run, and it regularly reported on new developments. It also published an article written by Dreyfus himself on Zionism. The journal was also opposed to assimilationist strands within Western Judaism.