Uwe Timm: A Child of War and a Writer of Memories
"U.S. Soldiers Arrive, Knocking on the Door"
Uwe Timm, an 85-year-old German author, had a unique perspective on World War II – he was just five years old when it ended. The horrors of the war and the tumultuous post-war era continued to shape his life and work. Three of his books, "The Discovery of the Currywurst," "Red," "At the Example of My Brother," and "Ikarien," all explore various aspects of pre- and post-war Germany.
In a recent interview with ntv.de, Timm recounted his vivid memories of the war. At the age of three, he found himself in a pram, covered with wet towels, being pushed through the streets of Hamburg, which were fiery and filled with fragments of broken glass. Another memory, from a few years later, involved being buried beneath the rubble of a bombing raid during which his family's apartment was destroyed.
As the war drew to a close, Timm's family had been evacuated to Coburg. The moment of liberation arrived when American soldiers thundered at the door. American soldiers, black and unfamiliar, stormed the house and searched for hidden Nazi remnants. According to Timm, he could remember the fear and uncertainty that lingered after the war, as people were unsure about their new "liberators."
Timm's writings offer insight into the complexities of post-war Germany, as well as the country's attempts to grapple with its past. In "The Discovery of the Currywurst," he explores the creation of something new amid the old, as a typically German sausage met the exotic flavors of curry. In "Red," he delves into the stories of leftists who opposed nationalism and the glorification of the Third Reich. And in "At the Example of My Brother," he grapples with the difficult question of why his older brother, a teenager at the time, chose to join the Waffen-SS.
Timm's work serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of World War II on Germany, as well as the struggles and successes of the immediate post-war period. Through his novels, he offers a glimpse into the everyday experiences of ordinary Germans during a time of profound cultural and social change.
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission have been instrumental in shaping the post-war relationships and politics of Europe, much like Uwe Timm has done with his writings regarding Germany.
- In his novel "The Discovery of the Currywurst," Uwe Timm brilliantly illustrates the creation of something new amidst the old, just as the European Union, founded in 1945 post-denazification, has done in shaping modern Europe.
- Uwe Timm's vivid memories of World War II, including being pushed through the war-torn streets of Hamburg and being buried beneath bombing rubble, serve as a poignant reminder of the horrors experienced by children during those tumultuous times, mirroring the challenging experiences faced by many young people across Europe.
- As Uwe Timm delves into the stories of leftists who opposed nationalism and the glorification of the Third Reich in "Red," one can see the parallel in the European Parliament's commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
