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Erwin Strittmatter (14 August 1912 – 31 January 1994) was a German writer. Strittmatter was one of the most famous writers in the GDR.
/ref> Instead, in March 1941 he was drafted into the
Strittmatter deserted in March 1945Biography on German publisher's website.
and lived (without documentation) in Wallern/Volary (south-west Bohemia) for a few months. He was interrogated by the
article on website of German newspaper ''Mitteldeutsche Zeitung''. 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. He was a Stasi informer from 1958 to 1964. 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 criticized representatives of the ruling Socialist Unity Party in the course of the novel.Gregory D. Hanners, Erwin Strittmatter's 'Ole Bienkopp" and the Original of Political Criticism in GDR Literature
scholarly article on Strittmatter's work. On 31 January 1994, Strittmatter died after a long illness.
obituary on website of German newspaper ''Berliner Zeitung''.
Biography
Strittmatter was born the son of a baker and foods wholesaler. 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 1940 he volunteered to theWaffen-SS
The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...
but was rejected.Tagesspiegel.de Erwin Strittmatter: Das unbefragte Schweigen/ref> Instead, in March 1941 he was drafted into the
Ordnungspolizei
The ''Ordnungspolizei'' (), abbreviated ''Orpo'', meaning "Order Police", were the uniformed police force in Nazi Germany from 1936 to 1945. The Orpo organisation was absorbed into the Nazi monopoly on power after regional police jurisdiction w ...
in the ''SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18'', which operated under the control of the Waffen-SS and which was involved in the deportation of Jews from Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
. In October till December 1941 his unit was stationed at Cracow, probably as guards of the Krakau Ghetto. Later Strittmatter completed courses in anti- partisan warfare and was deployed in Slovenia, Finland und Greece.
Strittmatter deserted in March 1945Biography on German publisher's website.and lived (without documentation) in Wallern/Volary (south-west Bohemia) for a few months. He was interrogated by the
US Military
The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six Military branch, service branches: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States N ...
in May 1945, but they released him, thinking him a civilian. By June 1945 he was back in what remained of Germany, working for a fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Saalfeld
Saalfeld (german: Saalfeld/Saale) is a town in Germany, capital of the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district of Thuringia. It is best known internationally as the ancestral seat of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the Saxon House of Wettin.
Geography ...
and also for his father as a baker while also working as a correspondent and later as an editor for a newspaper. In 1947, he became head official of seven municipalities. In 1954 Strittmatter began working as a freelance writer. Strittmatter married Eva Strittmatter, who went on to become one of the most successful poets of East Germany, in 1956.Christian Eger, Tischgespräche in Schulzenhofarticle on website of German newspaper ''Mitteldeutsche Zeitung''. 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. He was a Stasi informer from 1958 to 1964. 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 criticized representatives of the ruling Socialist Unity Party in the course of the novel.Gregory D. Hanners, Erwin Strittmatter's 'Ole Bienkopp" and the Original of Political Criticism in GDR Literature
scholarly article on Strittmatter's work. On 31 January 1994, Strittmatter died after a long illness.
obituary on website of German newspaper ''Berliner Zeitung''.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strittmatter, Erwin 1912 births 1994 deaths People from Spremberg People from the Province of Brandenburg East German writers Writers from Brandenburg German male writers Gebirgsjäger of World War II German police officers Waffen-SS personnel Recipients of the National Prize of East Germany Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold Recipients of the Banner of Labor People of the Stasi