Translation in the German-Speaking Jewish Exile Periodical Aufbau (1933–1945)

Since the 1970s, German-language exile (1933–1945) has been an integral part of literary history research in German Studies. However, translational aspects have played only a minor role. The exile periodicals, of which more than 400 have been documented, exemplify this marginalization. Nevertheless, journals can depict exile and the process of integration in a nuanced way precisely because of their periodicity, spatial and temporal dispersion, and dialogic nature. One of the best-known exile periodicals, Aufbau/Reconstruction , provides such insights into the German-speaking Jewish exile diaspora in the United States. The periodical survived the exile years, transforming itself from a booklet of the German-Jewish Club into the most-quoted foreign-language paper in the US press. In this article, a translational profile of Aufbau (1933–1945) is created in order to illustrate the various exile-specific coping strategies (e.g., assimilation, refusal of integration, and cultural reflexivity) of the German-speaking Jewish exile community. The collection of translator names, titles, dates, and source languages is conducted through the process of autopsy. This data is further enriched by an analysis of translation derivatives, including translation criticism and prefaces. Based on this data, the use of translation and its function within the periodical – its translational profile – is deduced.