The Week (1933) facts for kids

The Week was a newspaper in Britain that had strong opinions. It was published from 1933 until 1941.

It was started by a journalist named Claud Cockburn in the spring of 1933. He had just returned from reporting in Germany. The newspaper focused on the rise of fascism, which is a type of strict government where one leader has all the power. A writer named Jessica Mitford said that The Week was important because it used secret sources to get its information. The newspaper stopped being published in 1941.

What Was The Week Newspaper?

The Week was a British newspaper that shared news and opinions. It was known for its strong views on important events happening in the world. The paper aimed to give readers information that they might not find in other newspapers.

How The Week Started

Claud Cockburn launched The Week as a newsletter in 1933. He had been a journalist reporting from Germany. When he came back to Britain, he wanted to create a publication. This new paper would focus on big changes happening in Europe. One main topic was the growing power of fascism.

Strong Opinions and Key Issues

In the late 1930s, The Week was very critical of Neville Chamberlain. He was the British leader at the time. The newspaper strongly disagreed with his policy of appeasement. This policy was about trying to avoid war. It meant giving in to some demands from other countries.

What Was Appeasement?

Appeasement was a way to try and keep peace. Leaders like Neville Chamberlain believed it could stop another big war. They thought that if they gave in to some demands from countries like Germany, war could be avoided. However, The Week thought this was a bad idea.

Spying Claims and Debates

Claud Cockburn said that a British spy agency, MI5, was watching him. He believed they were spying on him because of The Week. However, some historians think it was more likely another group. This group was called the Special Branch from Scotland Yard. They were less experienced in spying than MI5. Cockburn was against appeasement even before a big agreement. This agreement was called the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.

The Cliveden Set Idea

In 1937, Cockburn wrote an article in The Week. In it, he created the term Cliveden set. He used this term to describe a group of wealthy people. He claimed this group was secretly influencing politics. He also suggested they were friendly towards Germany.

Questions About Its Information

Some people, like historian D.C. Watt, questioned the information in The Week. Watt suggested that some of the news printed might have been rumors. He also thought some of these rumors might have helped the interests of Moscow. For example, in 1939, The Week claimed German troops were gathering. They said these troops were in Klagenfurt to invade Yugoslavia. Watt said there was no real proof for this claim.

When Did The Week Stop?

The Week stopped being published shortly after World War II began. Its last issue came out in 1941.