Who’s Who of GDR Journalism

With 12 original signatures of numerous prominent East German journalists and editors. Housed in a red faux-leather commemorative folder with gold stamped emblem of East Germany’s Socialist Unity Party.

Very good, tassels to folder fraying and edges of letter lightly creased.

Letter of congratulations from the journalists and editors of Neues Deutschland to their colleagues at Dietz Publishing.

For 43 years Neues Deutschland was the official party newspaper of the Socialist Unity Party, which governed East Germany. In 1989 the paper had a daily circulation of 1.1 million and was the communist party’s main way to communicate with citizens. Foreign countries regarded Neues Deutschland as East Germany’s diplomatic voice. The paper continues to be published today, albeit with a greatly reduced readership.

In this letter, signed by 12 journalists and editors of Neues Deutschland, they congratulate their colleagues at Dietz Publishing for 20 years of publishing success. Dietz Publishing printed in East Germany all the important socialist works: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Lenin, etcetera.

From the letter:

[May you, dear comrades, celebrate your day of honor knowing of the happiness that comes from transforming plain paper and printing ink into enlightened minds, the fire of hearts, and the strength of hands…]

The letter is signed by the Editor in Chief Hermann Axen and his deputies, including: Hajo Herbell, Walter Florath, Günter Kertzscher, Werner Schindler, Harri Czepuck (later Chairman of the Association of GDR Journalists), Klaus Höpcke (later Deputy Minister of Culture), Lieselotte Thoms-Heinrich (later Editor-in-Chief of the East German Women’s Magazine Für Dich), Rolf Gutermuth, Harald Wessel, and Eberhard Heinrich (later Chairman of the Association of GDR Journalists).

A very unusual letter with 12 original signatures comprising a Who’s Who in GDR Journalism.