Fritz von Unruh

Unruh, Fritz von (Koblenz, 1885-1970, Diez/Lahn), son of a general, was destined for the army and was a pupil at the military school at Plön (Schleswig-Holstein), where the Emperor's sons were educated. He entered the cavalry, but did not take to peace-time soldiering, resigned his commission in 1911, and turned to literature with the plays Offiziere (1911) and Louis Ferdinand, Prinz von Preußen (1913, see Louis Ferdinand, Prinz von Preussen), which were produced by M. Reinhardt. He joined a lancer (Ulan) regiment on the outbreak of the 1914-18 War, but was quickly disillusioned and disturbed by its horrors, as the symbolical play Vor der Entscheidung (written in October 1914) and the realistic narrative Opfergang (written near Verdun in 1916, both published 1919) show. Unruh's suffering, compassion, and pacifism are further reflected in the Expressionist play Ein Geschlecht (1917) and its successor Platz (1920).

Between the wars Unruh frequently spoke publicly in support of his humanitarian and pacifistic ideals (Stirb und werde, 1922; Vaterland und Freiheit, 1923; Reden, 1924; Politeia, 1933; and Europa, erwache!, 1936). He emigrated in 1932, escaping to the USA in 1940. Hitler is the subject of his novel The end is not yet (1947, in German as Der nie verlor, 1948), which was followed by Die Heilige (1952) and Fürchte nichts (1953), and the plays Duell an der Havel (a comedy), Wilhelmus von Orleans (both 1953), and 17. Juni (1954).

After the 1939-45 War, Unruh continued to propagate his views in speeches, Seid wachsam (an address on Goethe), Rede an die Deutschen, Friede auf Erden (all 1948), Mächtig seid ihr nicht in Waffen (1957), and Wir wollen Frieden (1962). Notable late novels are the autobiographical Der Sohn des Generals (1957) and Im Haus der Prinzen (1967); set in a frame (see Rahmen) in the 1950s, Unruh figures in the thin disguise of Uhle, the first-person narrator. Sämtliche Werke (20 vols.), ed. H. M. Elster, B. Rollka, et al., began to appear in 1970.

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Fritz von Unruh.

Memorial plate.

Fritz von Unruh (May 10, 1885 - November 28, 1970) was a German Expressionist dramatist, poet, and novelist.

Unruh was born in Koblenz, Germany. A general's son, he was an officer in the German army until 1912, when he left to pursue his writing career. Two of his earliest important works, the play Offiziere ("Officers"; 1911) and the poem Vor der Entscheidung ("Before the Decision"; 1914) established his anti-war beliefs and his belief that the social order must be based not on authority, but on the integrity and responsibility of the individual towards humanity. Unruh's works were anti-militaristic and called for world peace and brotherhood. Some of his more notable works include Der Opfergang ("Way of Sacrifice"), a powerful anti-war piece written during the siege of Verdun and published in 1919, Ein Geschlecht ("A Family"; 1916) and its sequel Platz (1920), and Heinrich von Andernach (1925).

Unruh was a staunch opponent of the Nazi Party and wrote several works warning of the consequences of Nazi dictatorship, Bonaparte (1927), Berlin in Monte Carlo (1931), and Zero (1932). He left Germany for France in 1932, later immigrating to the United States. He finally returned to Germany in 1962 and died in the town of Dietz at age 85.

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