The History Book Buffs

Storm of Steel and All Quiet on the Western Front: A WW1 classics showdown


Listen Later

Two masterpieces. Two utterly different visions of war. In this episode, the History Book Buffs go head-to-head over Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger and All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque — the twin titans of German World War I literature.

Which novel best captures the brutal reality of trench warfare? Was Jünger a fearless warrior-poet — or a dangerous sociopath? And why did the German far right celebrate one book and condemn the other?

We explore:
🔸 The raw, unflinching detail of Jünger's memoir
🔸 Remarque's anti-war classic and its enduring legacy
🔸 How both books shaped German memory of the war
🔸 The political fallout — from Nazi praise to book burnings

For fans of military history, great literature, and controversial takes — this is your battlefield.

📚 Featuring references to firsthand trench accounts, German interwar culture, and recent biographical takes on both authors.

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more historical debates, book battles, and WWI deep dives.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The History Book BuffsBy Roger Moorhouse and Antonia Senior