Erwin Strittmatter
Erwin Strittmatter | |
---|---|
Born | Spremberg, Germany | 14 August 1912
Died | 31 January 1994 Stechlin, Germany | (aged 81)
Occupation | Writer |
Notable work | Der Laden |
Political party | SED |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Erwin Strittmatter (14 August 1912 – 31 January 1994) was a German writer. Strittmatter was one of the most famous writers in the GDR.
Biography
Strittmatter was born the son of a baker and foods wholesaler.[1] Between 1924 and 1930 he attended the secondary school in Spremberg which has subsequently been named after him. His left his school early due to shortage of money, and at the age of 17 he started an apprenticeship as a baker. Later Strittmatter worked as baker, waiter, chauffeur, zookeeper and unskilled laborer.
In October 1939 he volunteered to the Schutzpolizei,[2] in March 1941 he was drafted into the Ordnungspolizei, He served in the Order Police Battalion Nr. 325, since summer 1942 III.Batl. of the Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18 [3] Strittmatter completed courses in anti-partisan warfare and was deployed in Slovenia, Finland und Greece.[4]
Strittmatter deserted in March 1945
In 1955 he was awarded the
On 31 January 1994, Strittmatter died after a long illness.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Bernd-Rainer Barth. "Strittmatter, Erwin * 14.8.1912, † 31.1.1994 Schriftsteller". Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur: Biographische Datenbanken. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ Verordnung über die Einstellung von Wehrpflichtigen in die Schutzpolizei des Reichs, 31.10.1939, RBGl. S.2137
- ^ Ralph Klein: Das Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18: Massaker, Deportation, Traditionspflege. Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft Nr. 1/2007, 18 January 2007
- ^ Tagesspiegel.de Erwin Strittmatter: Das unbefragte Schweigen
- ^ a b Biography on German publisher's website. Archived 15 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian Eger, Tischgespräche in Schulzenhof, article on website of German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
- ^ Joachim Walther (23 September 1996). "Petzen und Plaudern. Die Stasi-Kontakte des ostdeutschen Erfolgsautors Erwin Strittmatter". Der Spiegel. No. 39. pp. 226–227.
- ^ Gregory D. Hanners, Erwin Strittmatter's 'Ole Bienkopp" and the Original of Political Criticism in GDR Literature scholarly article on Strittmatter's work.
- ^ Christel Berger, Der Poet und Verzauberer aus Schulzenhof, obituary on website of German newspaper Berliner Zeitung.
External links
- Media related to Erwin Strittmatter at Wikimedia Commons