Ernst Junger

Ernst Junger was a German author and veteran of the first world war who is remembered for his evocative works of autobiographical stories and essays that sought to explore humanity’s relationship with conflict and nature. He is a controversial figure in that his writings often sought to romanticize his wartime experience and to some extent glorify war and militaristic values.

Ernst Junger was born in 1895 in Heidelberg, Germany, the son of a prosperous business owner. Growing up before World War I, he felt inspired by his father’s staunch German patriotism. He joined the army at the age of 18 and was sent to the Western Front in France, where he served as a stormtrooper during the bloody conflict. He witnessed some of the war’s most horrific moments and survived multiple wounds and was awarded an Iron Cross for bravery.

After the war, Junger wrote several books and memoirs such as “Storm of Steel” and “The Peace” which sought to explore the effects of conflict on humanity. Both works combine factual detail with a strong flavor of personal story, as he explored ideas of duty, camaraderie, and his own personal search for identity.

His most famous and provocative work is “The Storm of Steel” (1920). He uses the battlefield and the emotions of those fighting to portray war’s complex realities. At times, he appears to glorify acts of bravery and duty against overwhelming odds; at others, he is highly critical of militarism and authoritarianism.

Junger argued against the escapist view of modern life and instead favored a kind of “inner adventure,” whereby he looked for a deeper meaning to life in the struggles of everyday life. He explored notions of responsibility, courage, and honour, in the context of mainly World War I and subsequent wars. In his later works, such as “Heliopolis” (1929) and “On Pain” (1930), he discussed the physical and spiritual nature of suffering, human progress and science, as well as nature and its power.

Junger was highly influential during his lifetime and after his death in 1998, his works have been re-discovered and are in vogue once again. He influenced political thought across the world with his thoughts on militarism, war and conflict and his search for a deeper understanding of life.

His writing style, autobiographical stories and essays, are full of vivid imagery and descriptions, combined with a romanticized view of conflict and war. While at times his work has been seen as glorifying conflict, Junger is remembered for his insight into the complexities of war and the human experience.