Otto David Tolischus (November 20, 1890 – February 24, 1967) was a Prussian-Lithuanian-born journalist for The New York Times and winner of the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence for his writing and reporting from Berlin before and during World War II.

[3] Tolischus’ parents, David and Maria (née Kubillus) were local farmers and belonged to an ethnic minority of Prussian Lithuanians, also known as Memelanders.

Victor Morgan, the editor of the Cleveland Press, spearheaded this initiative as a test to assess whether the new journalism discipline in American universities was producing the necessary expertise and skills for the business world.

[14] The scheme was a success, and in September 1916, Victor Morgan announced that the Cleveland Press would likely recruit editorial workers from the ranks of journalism school graduates.

[26][27] At the time of joining Universal News, Tolischus worked with the team of Hearst correspondents; among them were the head of the editorial staff in Europe Karl H. von Wiegand, Max Jordan and John Segrue.

Tolischus also reported that Hitler's whereabouts were unknown at the time, though it was believed that he had established his headquarters in Rosenheim, approximately 30 miles from Munich, and was still regarded as a significant threat.

After discussing the events surrounding the Munich putsch, Ludendorff introduced his confidants, doctor Rudolf Buttmann and captain Wilhelm Weiss, to Tolischus.

Ludendorff’s official statement, which comprised over half of Tolischus' report, asserted that both he and Gustav Ritter von Kahr were caught off guard by the events of the putsch and placed full responsibility on Adolf Hitler.

Robert Crozier Long also wrote on financial matters until his death in 1938, after which a young reporter named C. Brooks Peters was hired as a new addition to the Berlin team.

[43] Between April and May 1933, he visited key Silesian cities like Breslau (Wrocław), Oppeln (Opole), and Hindenburg (Zabrze), filing dispatches that documented the rising nationalist sentiment and Nazi political initiatives in the area.

These guidelines included an intelligence questionnaire, supposedly designed for the “lowest grade of normal intelligence.” Failure to satisfactorily answer these questions could result in sterilization.

In the proclamation Hitler announced that ‘the series of border violations, which are unbearable to a great power, prove that the Poles no longer are willing to respect the German frontier.

At that point, Tolischus' report indicated that ‘the Hitler army order is interpreted as providing, for the time being, armed defences of the German frontiers against aggression.

The action is also suspected of forcing international diplomatic actions.’[57] The second part of the report told about an ‘increasing number of border incidents involving shooting and mutual Polish-German casualties’.

PK content underwent quick approval by the official Nazi censors before dissemination to both domestic and international news outlets and photo agencies.

[64] The bureau chiefs agreed to draw lots and the journey fell to Louis Lochner, the head of the AP in Berlin.

According to Tolischus, the Polish strategy appeared to involve retreating to towns, only to be easily dislodged by artillery fire or outflanked by German troops.

He also noted that by the time of his visit, Germany had achieved nearly complete air superiority, and the blackout measures in Poland had been lifted by German authorities.

Despite Poland's military setbacks, Tolischus observed a strong sense of national consciousness and a deep-seated resentment towards their conquerors among the populace.

Additionally, during his visits to several towns, Tolischus learned that German authorities swiftly labelled Jews as "Franctireurs" (irregular combatants) and subjected them to summary executions.

[76] Tolischus detailed his experience in an article, noting that unlike other foreign correspondents expelled outright, he was offered a "leave of absence" with the understanding he wouldn't return to Germany.

Tolischus expected the same thorough search and checks at the border to which many correspondents had been subjected while leaving Germany and for this reason he left all notes behind in Berlin.

According to Tolischus, he managed to stay ahead of the advancing Nazi forces during the invasion of Scandinavia, departing Oslo just two days prior to the German occupation.

[83] In August 1940, Tolischus departed from Stockholm, heading to the Finnish port of Petsamo to be evacuated aboard the SS American Legion.

The British authorities directed their vessel to follow a specific route, while the Nazis, via the ship's radio, issued hourly threats to sink the SS American Legion unless it altered its course.

Tolischus drew comparisons with Germany at war and indicated the same symptoms: Tokyo had a citywide dim-out, there were shortages and queues for food shops and low number of taxis.

Instead of the full release, Tolischus was escorted to the internment camp at Sumire, located between Tokyo and Yokohama (previously a Catholic girls' school).

In his account Tolischus noted that the original group of internees at Sumire were thirteen Americans, also British, Dutch, Belgians and French Canadians.

On June 2 the camp received Wall Street Journal's team members: Max Hill, Richard Tenelly and Raymond Cromley.

Tolischus and other passengers boarded the ship which left the dock but stayed anchored in the Tokyo Bay for another week before departing on June 25.