Hermann Borchardt papers, 1918-1960s

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Summary

Creator:
Borchardt, Hermann, 1888-
Abstract:
German writer and intellect who escaped a Nazi concentration camp and immigrated to New York in 1937. Collection consists of correspondence between Borchardt and several friends, including several news clippings and photographs. Subjects discussed include the emergence of Nazi Germany under Hitler and the origins and consequences of World War II. The remainder of the collection consists of literary manuscripts, drafts, and notes from Borchardt's writings, as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings. Many of the materials are not in order and are in poor condition. Writings are in German and English.
Extent:
4.2 Linear Feet
3200 Items
Language:
Material in English, German
Collection ID:
RL.00128

Background

Scope and content:

The original collection consists of correspondence between Borchardt and several friends, including several news clippings and photographs. Subjects discussed include the emergence of Nazi Germany under Hitler and the origins and consequences of World War II. They despise Hitler's tactics, expressed dismay with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, and criticized Hitler's deal with Russia's Stalin (i.e. the German-Russian Non-Aggression Pact of 1939). The collection also makes reference to German playwright Bertolt Brecht, whose views of war the correspondents agreed with.

The accession (2008-0158) appears to consist largely of literary manuscripts, drafts, and notes from Borchardt's writings, as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings. Many of the materials are not in order and are in poor condition. Writings are in German and English. This addition is unprocessed.

Biographical / historical:

Hermann Borchardt was a German intellectual with Marxist leanings who left Germany in 1933 following Hitler's rise to power. He moved to Russia to teach German, but his exposure to the oppression he found there led him to reverse his political leanings and become an outspoken critic of communism. His family was expelled from Russia in 1936, and returned to Germany. Borchardt spent 10 months in Nazi concentration camps before finally being allowed to leave Germany and immigrate to the United States, where his family later joined him. He continued to write books, short stories, and articles criticising communism. His best work is considered to be The Conspiracy of the Carpenters, published in 1943; other works include Philosophische Grundbegriffe (1927); The Bloody Deeds of Germersheim Before the Eternal Judge, Music of the Near Future, The Red Document (1929); The Brethren of Halberstadt (1938); and The Wife of the Police-Commissionaire (1946). He died of a heart attack in 1951.

Borchardt's youngest son, Frank, was born in New York City, and eventually became a professor of German Languages at Duke University.

Acquisition information:
The Hermann Borchardt Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2007.
Processing information:

Accessioned by Meghan Lyon, April 2009

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, April 2009

Materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hermann Borchardt Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University