Intercultural Advocacy and Antifascist Activism: Paul Zech’ Exile in Argentina, 1933-1946

Abstract

This article examines the German author Paul Zech’s role as an antifascist cultural intermediary during his exile in Argentina from 1934 to his death in 1946. Drawing from archival and period sources, the essay investigates Zech’s work with the Chilean-based exilic magazine, Deutsche Blätter, and briefly notes his engagement with Latin American media, such as Sur, La Nación, Los Anales de Buenos Aires, and Davar. His involvement with these publications led to collaborative projects with renowned South American authors, including Victoria Ocampo, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriela Mistral, Juana Ibarbourou, Jorge Icaza, and Eduardo Mallea. Through Zech, I also reassess the role of Spanish-speaking authors and local media in the Deutsche Blätter, which is considerably more extensive and meaningful than previously realized. The Deutsche Blätter evolved into a transcultural magazine, one in which multiple internationally acclaimed Latin American authors were published in German for the first time. The article concludes that Zech was on an upward trajectory in the last years before his death, having gained a cross-cultural skillset that empowered him to achieve a degree of success amid the multifold challenges of exile.