Gunter Grass

[Just Lucky]

One of the worlds greatest authors has admitted to having been a member of the Waffen SS. I am curious as to what people think about this disclosure and the fact he previously hid this connection.

[Sol]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

One of the worlds greatest authors has admitted to having been a member of the Waffen SS. I am curious as to what people think about this disclosure and the fact he previously hid this connection.

Edit my first post.

I had not read the news on Gunter Grass until a few minutes ago. Frankly, I was surprised that with all of the work he has done to denounce the Nazis, he would be associated with the Stormtroopers. He joined the Waffen SS when he was 17. Hitler was a charismatic bastard that was able to convince young men and women that what he was doing was right. Like some teenagers, Grass became involved with something that later he would deeply regret. This is obvious with all of the activism that he has done. If he kept this part of his life a secret, it's because he was deeply ashamed. He admitted this in his autobiography, so that implies that he is coming to terms with a painful episode of his life.

[JEZ]

Nobel prize winner - correct?

Didnt he write the book describing the sinking ( by a Russian torpedo ) of a German cruise ship in 1945, which was carring 9,000 plus evacuees from Poland to Germany??

[Andiline]

And what a surprise that you can read all about it in his next book which is about to be published very soon...

[Joana]

Well- he was honest about it when the war ended. When being released from being a POW he admitted it to US soldiers who were sorting his release document. I saw a pic of it in the paper today.
Another reason why he is coming out of the closet now may be a simply practical one: old documents proving the Nazi-past of many more or less famous personas that used to be kept in the archives of the former Eastern Germany are being sorted through since 2001 and the sorting is supposed to come to an end at the start of next year. It is very certain that his past is documented in there as well- so he might have been outed sooner or later anyhow.
I find it somehow understandable that he was not talking about that fact- maybe not correct, but understandable. And he took a clear stand on the happenings in his books later........

[BonnyW]

Originally Posted by Joana

Well- he was honest about it when the war ended. When being released from being a POW he admitted it to US soldiers who were sorting his release document. I saw a pic of it in the paper today.
Another reason why he is coming out of the closet now may be a simply practical one: old documents proving the Nazi-past of many more or less famous personas that used to be kept in the archives of the former Eastern Germany are being sorted through since 2001 and the sorting is supposed to come to an end at the start of next year. It is very certain that his past is documented in there as well- so he might have been outed sooner or later anyhow.
I find it somehow understandable that he was not talking about that fact- maybe not correct, but understandable. And he took a clear stand on the happenings in his books later........

Nice to see you posting Joana

[Just Lucky]

I've been giving this some time to digest. I was influenced by his writings from an early age. For me he is the type of writer one gets to know quite well, almost personally, through reading their works. My initial reaction to the news was a feeling of disillusionment. Upon giving it more thought I think if this had come out much earlier in his career he would have never sold as many books. I find his books to be a very positive influence. I also think the real story is somewhat inspiring as it shows how much people can change.

[Just Lucky]

There's an opinion piece by John Irving here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/ar...853747,00.html

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

I've been giving this some time to digest. I was influenced by his writings from an early age. For me he is the type of writer one gets to know quite well, almost personally, through reading their works. My initial reaction to the news was a feeling of disillusionment. Upon giving it more thought I think if this had come out much earlier in his career he would have never sold as many books. I find his books to be a very positive influence. I also think the real story is somewhat inspiring as it shows how much people can change.

You are right, people can change and it it takes courage. I always try to remember that people are often the victims of their times and of circumstances beyond their control.

[Jacko]

Click here for a Newsweek article on the subject