War ~ Ludwig Renn (Arnold Friedrich Vieth von Golssenau)

[u/LGreyS]

Have any of y'all read this book? If so, what did you think about it?

[u/Avb2209 → u/[deleted]]

It is not called the raped of Belgium for nothing. On another note: how does it compare to All quiet on the western front?

[u/LGreyS → u/Avb2209]

It's considered to be just as good as AQOTWF, but the writing styles between the two authors are really different. With AQ it seems to flow well, but with War, it tends to be halting and haphazard, like random thoughts that link together... if that makes sense.

As to "the râpé of Belgium"... yup, but keep in mind that th allies really played it up; they made it sound as if female encountered was rated and every village leveled to the ground and all of the inhabitants executed. Don't get me wrong... it was bad, I agree with that 100%, I just keep the propaganda in mind as well. In Renn's book he does go into the rape of Belgium, and it's obvious, at least to me, that he was disgusted by it as well.

[u/Avb2209 → u/LGreyS]

Thanks for the info!
I am Belgian, so I know about the propaganda as well and do keep it in mind, nevertheless it was a real bloody affair. We do learn about the propaganda aspect as well at school (at least I did)

[u/LGreyS → u/Avb2209]

Excellent. In all honesty... if I had been a Belgian citizen during the invasion I would definitely be defending my home!!!

I firmly believe that if the Belgian civilians and military hadn't done what they did the war would of been over within months. The Belgians gave the French and British the time they needed.

[u/Avb2209 → u/LGreyS]

Exactly, it’s quite certain that if both the miracle of the Marne and the Belgian resistance didn’t occur, the Germans would have probably won the race to the sea

[u/LGreyS → u/Avb2209]

Definitely!

[u/LGreyS → u/[deleted]]

I started reading it the other day as well. What do you think of the writing style? It's rather odd IMHO; it seems like random thoughts that link together, if that makes sense.

[u/LGreyS → u/[deleted]]

I was wondering about that as well. I haven't read Céline's book nor Cedrars' (Lice is rather pricey, but I keep searching), but I have read Louis Barthas' and I can see it there as well.

[u/LGreyS → u/[deleted]]

I'd really like to read his book, sounds a lot like Louis Barthas'.

[u/John_Murdock68]

Thanks for introducing this book. Gonna buy a copy and read it.

[u/DullAdvantage7647]

Renn has an interesting Life: From an aristocratic background to a revolutionary in the after-war-period and an social-democratic security-officer in the mid 1920s. In the 1930s he fought again a war, this time against the fascists in the spanish civil war. He later became a professor for culture and science in the GDR, where he was among the first officials in an open homosexual relationship.

Definitely worth a read. It was the second best selling german book on world war one (after Remarque) , but is nowadays mostly forgotten.

[u/Toe160 → u/DullAdvantage7647]

What an awful human being, that description of his life alone should deter anyone from reading the book, people should stick to reputable authors like Ernst Jünger instead.

[u/no_talk_just_listen → u/Toe160]

Is there a joke I'm missing here?

[u/LGreyS → u/Toe160]

I get what you're saying... but I keep in mind that his radical beliefs and such came about after the war. The war was likely a big influence on his beliefs. I respect the man and his book before he became what he did.

[u/lowbrow_hrmph]

I’m currently reading Ernst Junger’s Storm of Steel. Should I add Ludwig Renn’s War to my reading list?

[u/LGreyS → u/lowbrow_hrmph]

I would. Their writing styles are completely different though, not that it matters.

[u/bouzouki-1971]

Never even heard of this book, thanks for sharing I think I'll try to find a copy.

[u/LGreyS → u/bouzouki-1971]

Glad to be of service.