<i>Der gerade Weg. Deutsche Zeitung für Wahrheit und Recht</i> (1932-1933) Deutsche Zeitung für Wahrheit und Recht (1932-1933)

Der gerade Weg was founded by former Bavarian archive official Fritz Gerlich. Having made a name for himself with pan-German propaganda during the First World War, he became a member of the German Democratic Party (DDP) after the revolution. Both aspects of his background made him an ideal choice for the Ruhr industry group that purchased the Münchner Neueste Nachrichten in 1920. Gerlich became editor-in-chief, re-aligning what had previously been a liberal newspaper to a right-wing stance – even though it continued to present itself formally as democratic so as not to alienate traditional readers.

Gerlich’s mindset was based on an antagonistic friend-foe scheme and he acted accordingly. Political opponents such as the Social Democrats were to be destroyed, for example. A turning point came when he traveled to Konnersreuth in 1927 to report on the case of Therese Neumann, who was believed to have experienced supernatural phenomena, often interpreted as miracles: brought up in the Calvinist-Reformation faith, Gerlich had an awakening that attracted him to Catholicism. He left the Münchner Neueste Nachrichten in 1928, his position having become untenable due to a conflict with the publishing house management.

Together with Prince Erich zu Waldburg-Zeil he acquired the politically neutral Munich weekly magazine Illustrierter Sonntag in September 1930, transforming it from July 1931 onwards into a militant publication against National Socialism, which he now regarded as the most dangerous enemy. He converted to the Catholic faith in September 1931. In January 1932 he changed the title of the magazine to Der gerade Weg. Deutsche Zeitung für Wahrheit und Recht(‘The straight path. German newspaper for truth and justice’). Its style became more and more that of a sensationalist tabloid, running headlines such as “Does Hitler have Mongolian blood?” on July 17, 1932.

Gerlich consistently presented revelations about the National Socialists. One of his informants was Georg Bell, a shady SA agent. On March 9, 1933, the day the National Socialists seized power in Bavaria, SA troops stormed the newspaper’s offices and mistreated Gerlich; he was subsequently imprisoned. Four days later, his magazine was banned. In connection with the murders of June 30, 1934, he was deported to the Dachau concentration camp and killed by members of the SS upon arrival.