February 1933

It all happened in a flash. February 1933 was the month in which the fate of German writers, as for so many others, was decided. In a tensely spun narrative, Uwe Wittstock tells the story of a demise which was predicted by some but also scarcely thought possible. He reveals how, in a matter of weeks, the glittering Weimar literary scene gave way to a long, dark winter, and how the net drew ever closer for Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, Else Lasker-Schüler, Alfred Döblin, and countless others.

Monday, January 30: Adolf Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. Joseph Roth cannot wait any longer to learn what todays paper will report. He leaves for the station early in the morning and takes the train to Paris; bidding Berlin farewell comes naturally to him. Meanwhile, Thomas Mann barely spares a thought for politics during the next ten days, focusing instead on his forthcoming speech on Richard Wagner.

Weaving an intimate portrait of the major figures whose lives he follows day by day, Wittstock shows how the landslide of events which immediately followed Hitlers victory spelled disaster for the countrys literary elite. He resurrects the atmosphere of the times, marked by anxiety for many, by passivity and self-betrayal for some, and by grim determination for others. Who will applaud the new dictator, and who will flee, fearing for their life?

Drawing on unpublished archival material, this important work is both a meticulous historical narrative and a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant in the face of the forces that threaten democracy, however distant the prospect of totalitarianism may seem.

Uwe Wittstock is a journalist, critic and author who lives in Germany. He was awarded the prestigious Theodor Wolff prize for journalism in 1989.

Acknowledgements

List of Illustrations



Stepping off the Cliff * The month in which the die was cast



The Republics Last Dance * Saturday, 28 January

Hell Reigns * Monday, 30 January

Axes at the Door * Tuesday, 31 January

Inferior Foreign-Blooded Trash * Thursday, 2 February

Tongue-Tied * Friday, 3 February

Not Sure What to Do * Saturday, 4 February

Burial in the Rain * Sunday, 5 February

Meeting Routine * Monday, 6 February

Hideous, Violent Little Characters * Friday, 10 February

Schutzstaffel for Writers * Sunday, 12 February

Men in Black * Monday, 13 February

Fever and Flight * Tuesday, 14 February

Slamming the Door * Wednesday, 15 February

The Little Schoolteacher * Thursday, 16 February

Im Leaving. Im Staying * Friday, 17 February

No Treasure in the Silver Lake * Saturday, 18 February

Whats the Point of Writing? * Sunday, 19 February

Pay up! * Monday, 20 February

Pretty Good Cover * Tuesday, 21 February

Surviving the Coming Weeks * Wednesday, 22 February

A Minister in the Audience * Friday, 24 February

Civil War Tribunal and Police Protection * Saturday, 25 February

Travel Advice * Monday, 27 February

Dictatorship Is Here * Tuesday, 28 February

Fading from the World * Wednesday, 1 March

The Fake Mother * Friday, 3 March

Dont Open the Door! * Saturday, 4 March

Casting a Ballot * Sunday, 5 March

The Emigrants Solitude * Monday, 6 March

Courage, Fear, and Fire * Tuesday, 7 March

Nothing but Goodbyes * Wednesday, 8 March

Unexpected Attacks * Friday, 10 March

Final Days * Saturday, 11 March

Departures * Monday, 13 March

The Sight of This Hell * Wednesday, 15 March



What Happened Afterward * 33 Life Sketches



Afterword

Bibliography

Index