Ernst Toller occupied a volatile space between revolutionary politics and Expressionist literature in early twentieth-century Germany. Born in 1893 in Szamocin, he emerged from the traumatic collapse of his military service during World War I to become a central figure in the brief Bavarian Soviet Republic, eventually translating his turbulent political experiences into widely performed stage dramas.
Political Leadership and Imprisonment
In 1919, Toller served as president of the Bavarian Soviet Republic for six days. His tenure was marked by ambitious but unrealized decrees regarding socialized industry and labor hours. Following the government's defeat by the Freikorps, he faced trial. Despite testimony from figures like Thomas Mann and Max Weber, he received a five-year prison sentence. He served this time at Stadelheim, Neuburg, Eichstätt, and Niederschönenfeld, where he endured solitary confinement and hunger strikes.
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Toller's creative output was inextricably linked to his life as a politician and soldier. His first drama, Transformation, drew directly from his thirteen months of service on the Western Front. While imprisoned, he produced several plays including Masses Man, The Machine Wreckers, and Brokenbrow. Later, his play Hoppla, We're Alive! premiered in 1925, portraying a disillusioned revolutionary adjusting to a system he once fought. He wrote extensively in German and English, producing works like his autobiography, I Was a German, and The Swallow-Book.
Exile and Final Years
The rise of the Nazi regime forced Toller into exile in 1933. He traveled through the United States and Canada during 1936 and 1937 before eventually settling in New York City. His later career involved screenwriting and advocacy, yet he struggled with financial hardship and the emotional strain of separation from his wife. He died by suicide in May 1939 at the Mayflower Hotel in New York City. He was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, Szamocin
- Died: 1939, New York City
- Education: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 1917
- Military Rank: Non-commissioned officer
- Political Affiliation: Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
- Languages: German, English, Yiddish
- Notable Works: Hoppla, We're Alive!; I Was a German; The Swallow-Book
- Burial Site: Ferncliff Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What political position did Ernst Toller hold in 1919?
He served as the president of the Bavarian Soviet Republic from 6 April to 12 April 1919.
Where did Toller write most of his plays?
He wrote many of his prominent dramas while serving a five-year prison sentence in various German fortresses.
Achievements
- Notable work: Hoppla, We're Alive!
- Notable work: The Swallow-Book
- Notable work: I was a German
- Notable work: Masses Man
