Aid during World War I

Polish version of the flyer seems to translate better than German (but maybe because scan was cleaner), but they also seem to differ in that the German version seems to refer to Russian-Poles.

A circle to help the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Poland who were in Berlin injured by the army.

        With the permission of the Royal Command in Berlin, a local Committee was formed, the aim of which is to help, as far as possible, the victims of the war to the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Poland who are in Berlin.

        The Towaszy[1] Society Fund is to consist of private contributions, systematically collected by the members of the Society among friends and acquaintances. The benefits will be provided regardless of the difference of religion. The executive committee consists of the following persons:

Bronisław Huberman[2]
Eduard Fučhs[3]
Dr., Franeiszka Baumgarten
Helena Maisner

        All written inquiries and reports should be sent to Dr. Fr. Baumgarten, Dahlmannstr. 4.[4]

        Payments will be made for, "Polenbilfskomitee", Banker House Carsch, Simon & Co., Kronenstr. 57I Checking account 6334, and the treasurer of the Circle, Mr. Helena Maisner, Kurfürstendamm 81 u

Inside her diary is this "statement" from Prof. A. Brückner[8]:

Statement

The undersigned hereby declare that Dr. Franciszka Baumgarten, throughout her entire stay in Berlin, selflessly served the Polish cause and extended all manner of assistance to Poles, regardless of their political or religious convictions. We indignantly reject any insinuations to the contrary—which appeared in the Poznań press and were subsequently repeated in the Warsaw press—intended to discredit one of our most distinguished social workers. We, who are personally familiar with Dr. Franciszka Baumgarten’s work, feel compelled by the truth to protest most vigorously against the slander and accusations leveled against her.

Berlin, December 10, 1918.

Professor A. Brückner

***

The original articles (two separate in same issue) in the Poznan newspaper.

The Bolshevik push toward Poland. A considerable number of more or less suspicious figures are currently traveling to Warsaw from London, The Hague, and Stockholm, receiving every manner of assistance from the German government. These returnees—Jews—are making their way back to Poland with baffling ease. Facilitating this travel is a certain Ms. Baumgarten from Berlin—reportedly influential within the German government—who, as far as is known, maintains close ties with Count Kessler,[9] the man currently slated to become ambassador in Warsaw. As your correspondent has learned, Ms. Baumgarten’s relationship with Count Kessler dates back to his time in Bern. It would be worth taking a closer look at the groups of Jews currently arriving via Berlin—and at the passports they are carrying.

...

From various quarters: Count Harry Kessler. The newly appointed German envoy, Harry Kessler, arrived in Warsaw yesterday. According to reports, Harry Kessler is not among Germany's prominent or influential politicians; however, he is regarded as an outstanding connoisseur of the fine arts and has distinguished himself through his philosophical and historical writings on art. Kessler spent some time in Bern, where he engaged in specialized promotional work for German art. Politically, he is a radical democrat, though in his dealings with Poles, he typically presented himself as an internationalist. German circles in Berlin are at a loss to understand why Mr. Kessler was chosen as the envoy to Warsaw. The only factor speaking in favor of his appointment would seem to be that, during the early stages of the war, he served as a liaison officer and, in that capacity, came into contact with Brigadier Piłsudski. One detail that reflects poorly on Count Kessler is his association with a certain Ms. Baumgarten—a resident of Berlin who reportedly also spent time in Bern in the past. The American Embassy in Berlin once warned us Poles about Ms. Baumgarten—a fact that need no longer be concealed. To this day, Ms. Baumgarten concerns herself with Poles returning to their homeland.

One of many Warsaw newspapers that picked up the second article (but not the "Jews" one):

Who is Count Kessler? 

The Berlin correspondent for *Dziennik Poznański* reports that the newly appointed German envoy to Warsaw, Count Kessler, is not among Germany's well-known or influential politicians; rather, he is regarded as an eminent connoisseur of the fine arts and has distinguished himself through his philosophical and historical writings on art. A radical democrat by political conviction, he generally presented himself as an internationalist in his dealings with Poles during his time in Bern. The only point in favor of his appointment is the fact that, early in the war, Count Kessler served as a liaison officer and, in that capacity, came into direct contact with Brigadier Piłsudski. One detail speaks rather unfavorably against Count Kessler: his association with a certain Mrs. Baumgarten—a resident of Berlin who had also spent time in Bern. There is no longer any need to conceal the fact that the American Embassy in Berlin once warned us Poles about Mrs. Baumgarten.

***

The "Correction":

Correction. In Issue No. 270 of *Dziennik*, under the headline "The Bolshevik Push Towards Poland — Count Harry Kessler," we published two dispatches submitted to us by our Berlin correspondent. These dispatches mention the name D. Baumgarten. Consequently, Dr. Franciszka Baumgarten (Ph.D.) of Berlin has submitted to us a comprehensive statement, from which it is evident that the allegations contained in the aforementioned two *Dziennik* notes cannot, under any circumstances, refer to her personally.