Erwin Strittmatter

Erwin Strittmatter
Born August 14, 1912(1912-08-14)
Spremberg, Germany
Died January 31, 1994(1994-01-31) (aged 81)
Stechlin, Germany
Occupation Writer
Notable work(s) Der Laden

Erwin Strittmatter (14 August 1912 in Spremberg - 31 January 1994 in Schulzenhof near Dollgow/Stechlin) was a German writer. Strittmatter was one of the most famous writers in the GDR.

Strittmatter was born the son of a baker. After graduating from the Realgymnasium at the age of 17, he started an apprenticeship as a baker. Later, he worked as baker, waiter, chauffeur, zookeeper and unskilled laborer. In 1940 he volunteered to the Waffen-SS but was rejected.[1] During the Second World War Strittmatter served as a member of the Ordnungspolizei in the SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18,[2] which was involved in the deportation of Jews from Athens.[3] In October till December 1941 his unit was stationed at Cracow, probably as guards of the Krakau Ghetto.[1] Later Strittmatter completed courses in anti-partisan warfare and was deployed in Slovenia, Finland und Greece.[1]

Strittmatter deserted near the end of the war[4] and continued to work as a baker while also working as a correspondent, later as an editor for a newspaper. In 1947, he became head official of seven municipalitites. In 1954 Strittmatter began working as a freelance writer.[4] Strittmatter married Eva Strittmatter, who went on to become one of the most successful poets of East Germany, in 1956.[5]

In 1955 he was awarded the National Prize of the GDR for his novel Tinko, in 1961 he received the Lessing award of the GDR. His 1963 novel "Ole Bienkopp" was the first widely read work of literature in East Germany to break the constraints of Socialist Realism and offer a tragic hero who critized representatives of the ruling Socialist Unity Party in the course of the novel. [6]

On 31 January 1994, Erwin Strittmatter died after long illness.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Tagesspiegel.de Erwin Strittmatter: Das unbefragte Schweigen
  2. ^ FAZ.de Die Partisanenkämpfe eines poetischen Menschen
  3. ^ Ralph Klein: Das Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18: Massaker, Deportation, Traditionspflege. Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft Nr. 1/2007, 18 January 2007
  4. ^ a b Biography on German publisher's website.
  5. ^ Christian Eger, Tischgespräche in Schulzenhof, article on website of German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
  6. ^ Gregory D. Hanners, Erwin Strittmatter's 'Ole Bienkopp" and the Origina of Political Criticism in GDR Literature scholarly article on Strittmatter's work.
  7. ^ Christel Berger, Der Poet und Verzauberer aus Schulzenhof, obituary on website of German newspaper Berliner Zeitung.