The military memoir Storm of Steel established the literary reputation of Ernst Jünger, a German writer whose career spanned over a century of profound political upheaval. Moving between the roles of soldier, philosopher, journalist, and entomologist, he produced more than forty books that navigated the complex intersections of conservative thought, total mobilization, and the nature of human existence.
Military Service and Combat Experience
Born in 1895 in Heidelberg, Jünger volunteered for the Imperial German Army in 1914 upon the outbreak of World War I. He served as a captain on the Western Front, earning the Pour le Mérite for his leadership as a stormtrooper. Over the course of the conflict, he sustained multiple wounds and documented his experiences, which later provided the foundation for his literary output.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Literary and Philosophical Development
Jünger pursued academic interests at Leipzig University during the interwar period. His writings, including The forest passage, Eumeswil, and Storm of Steel, placed him within the movement known as the Conservative Revolution. His work often explored the challenges of modern life and the pressures of technology, contrasting with the democratic structures of the Weimar Republic.
World War II and Later Years
During World War II, Jünger served as an army captain in occupied Paris. By 1943, his perspectives shifted, reflected in the work The Peace. His subsequent dismissal from the military in 1944 followed associations with officers involved in internal resistance. After the war, he moved away from political activism, focusing on his research in entomology and philosophy until his death in 1998 in Riedlingen.
Fast facts
- Born: 1895, Heidelberg
- Died: 1998, Riedlingen
- Military Rank: Captain
- Primary Movement: Conservative Revolution
- Notable Works: Storm of Steel, Eumeswil, The forest passage
- Burial Site: Wilflingen Cemetery
- Religion: Catholicism
- Key Award: Schiller Memorial Prize (1974)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Ernst Jünger study?
He studied natural sciences at the University of Leipzig.
Was Jünger involved in scientific fields outside of literature?
Yes, he was an active entomologist throughout his life.
Where is Ernst Jünger buried?
He is buried at the Wilflingen Cemetery.
Achievements
- Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg — 1980
- Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1985
- Schiller Memorial Prize — 1974
- Goethe Prize of the City of Frankfurt — 1982
- Notable work: The forest passage
- Notable work: Storm of Steel
- Notable work: Eumeswil
