Stefan Heym

1.1. Early Life and Education

Helmut Flieg was born on April 10, 1913, in Chemnitz, Germany, into a Jewish merchant family. From an early age, he developed strong anti-fascist and anti-war sentiments. In 1931, his anti-military poem, titled Exportgeschäft^German (Export Business), was published in a social-democratic newspaper. This act led to his expulsion from the Gymnasium in his hometown and placed him on the Nazi blacklist. He completed his schooling in Berlin, where he began studying media studies, philosophy, German literature, and journalism. Following the Reichstag fire in 1933, which intensified Nazi persecution, Heym fled to Czechoslovakia, one of the few remaining democracies in Central Europe at the time. It was there that he adopted the pseudonym Stefan Heym. During his time in Prague, he worked for German newspapers such as Prager Tagblatt^German and Bohemia^German, and also had articles translated and published in Czech newspapers, often signing them under various pseudonyms including Melchior Douglas and Gregor Holm. Tragically, his family faced severe persecution under the Nazi regime; his father was taken hostage and later committed suicide, and his remaining family members were exterminated in Jewish concentration camps.

1.2. Exile in the United States

In 1935, Heym received a scholarship from a Jewish student association, which enabled him to emigrate to the United States. He continued his studies at the University of Chicago, completing his degree in 1936 with a dissertation on the German poet Heinrich Heine. Initially, Heym held an optimistic view that the Nazi regime would soon collapse. However, as the Nazi influence solidified, he realized the need to raise awareness among Americans about the dangers of Nazism and fascism. From 1937 to 1939, based in New York City, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the German-language weekly newspaper Deutsches Volksecho^German, which was closely aligned with the Communist Party of the USA. Through his journalistic work and literary endeavors, he aimed to build a "Volksfront," a united anti-fascist front of Americans and Germans. He also actively participated in civil rights movements, advocating for the human rights of marginalized groups, including laborers, women, children, and ethnic minorities.

After Deutsches Volksecho ceased publication in November 1939, Heym worked as a freelance author, writing in English. His first novel, Hostages (1942), became a bestseller. In 1943, Heym, who had become a U.S. citizen, contributed to the World War II war effort. He joined the Ritchie Boys, a unit specializing in psychological warfare under the command of émigré Hans Habe. His duties involved composing texts designed to influence Wehrmacht soldiers, which were disseminated through leaflets, radio broadcasts, and loudspeakers. These experiences later formed the background for his novel The Crusaders and were collected in Reden an den Feind^German (Speeches to the Enemy). In 1944, he participated in the Normandy landings.

1.3. Post-War Journalism in Germany

Following the war, Heym entered Germany as an officer of the victorious Allied forces. He led the Ruhrzeitung in Essen and subsequently became editor in Munich of Die Neue Zeitung, one of the most important newspapers of the American occupying forces, crucial for the denazification efforts. However, Heym's refusal to soften his critical stance toward Nazism and the German elites who had collaborated with it, as well as his refusal to subtly introduce doubts about Soviet intentions into his editorials, led to his transfer back to the U.S. toward the end of 1945.

1.4. Life and Activism in the German Democratic Republic (GDR)

In the early 1950s, as McCarthyism intensified in the United States, targeting intellectuals and artists perceived as left-leaning, Heym faced increasing surveillance and pressure due to his critiques of American capitalism and his socialist activities. In 1952, he returned all his American military commendations in protest against the Korean War, leaving the United States with his American wife, Gertrude Gelbin. He first moved to Prague and then, in 1953, to the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), after the GDR government restored his former German citizenship.

Initially, Heym received privileged treatment in the GDR as a returning anti-fascist émigré, residing with his wife in a state-provided villa in Berlin-Grünau. Between 1953 and 1956, he worked at the Berliner Zeitung, primarily publishing critical articles about the GDR. Afterward, he transitioned to being a freelance author. In his early years in the GDR, Heym supported the regime with socialist novels and other works. His works, which he continued to write in English, were published by Seven Seas Publishers, an imprint of Volk und Welt, a publishing house that also published English literature by British and American authors. His wife, Gertrude Heym, edited this series, and his German translations were printed in large numbers.

However, conflicts with the GDR authorities became apparent from 1956 onwards. Despite the ongoing destalinization of the leadership, the publication of his book on the June 17, 1953, uprising, titled Der Tag X^German (Day X) and later Fünf Tage im Juni^German (Five Days in June), was rejected. Tensions escalated further after 1965, when Erich Honecker publicly attacked Heym during an SED party conference. In the same year, Heym was banned from publishing within the GDR. In 1969, he was convicted of breaching exchange control regulations after publishing his novel Lassalle^German in West Germany without official permission, resulting in a fine. Despite these conflicts, he was still able to leave the GDR for foreign trips, including a two-month visit to the U.S. in 1978, and his books continued to appear in the GDR, albeit in lower print runs. The cultural policy relaxed somewhat after Erich Honecker's speech in May 1971, hinting at easing the rigid, dogmatic literary views of socialist realism, a speech known for its "no taboos" slogan.

In 1976, Heym was among the GDR authors who signed the petition protesting against the exile of Wolf Biermann. From this point, Heym could only publish his works in the West, and he began composing works in German. In 1979, he was again convicted for unauthorized publishing in West Germany and consequently excluded from the GDR Authors Association after the publication of his novel Collin^German.

Throughout the 1980s, Stefan Heym actively supported the civil rights movement in the GDR. While he advocated for a socialist-leaning German reunification as early as 1982, by late November 1989, he became a co-proposer and signatory of the declaration "Für unser Land^German" (For Our Country), which defended the autonomy of the GDR. He contributed numerous speeches to the East Berlin demonstrations in autumn 1989, including the Alexanderplatz Demonstration on November 4, which was a direct catalyst for the peaceful revolution. During this demonstration, Heym famously stated, "It's as if someone has opened a window! The era of spiritual, economic, and political stagnation, the era of gloomy, stagnant air, of empty words, bureaucratic arrogance, and official blindness and insensitivity, is over. Someone told me, and they were right: we have overcome our speechlessness in recent weeks, and now it's time to learn to walk straight." Following the reunification, Heym was legally rehabilitated by the GDR Authors Association in 1990.

1.5. Post-Reunification Political Engagement

In the years following German reunification, Heym was a vocal critic of what he perceived as the discrimination against East Germans during their integration into the Federal Republic. He argued for a socialist alternative to the capitalism that dominated the reunited Germany. In 1992, he co-founded the "Komitee für Gerechtigkeit^German" (Committee for Justice).

At the 1994 German federal election, Heym stood as an independent candidate on the Open List of the then Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), the successor to the former ruling party of the GDR, which Heym had opposed. Despite this, he won direct election to the Bundestag by securing the seat for Berlin-Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg. As the Father of the House, he delivered the opening speech of the new Parliament in November 1994. However, in an unusual display of disapproval, most members of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union parliamentary group did not applaud his speech, with Rita Süssmuth being a notable exception. Furthermore, Heym's speech was not included in the federal government's public relations materials, contrary to long-standing custom.

Feeling disillusioned by the disregard from the parliament and the realities of political life, Heym resigned in October 1995, just one year after his election, in protest against a planned constitutional amendment that would raise Members of Parliament's expense allowances. In 1997, he was among the signatories of the "Erfurt Declaration," which called for a red-green alliance (between the SPD and the Greens) to form a minority government supported by the PDS, aiming to end Chancellor Kohl's 16-year reign after the 1998 German federal election.

2.1. Anti-fascism and Socialism

Heym was a lifelong anti-fascist, a conviction forged in his youth and intensified by the persecution of his family under the Nazi regime. His early activism included writing anti-war poetry that led to his expulsion from school. Throughout his career, he remained a committed socialist, believing in the fundamental principles of social equality and justice. He was critical of both authoritarian regimes, as evidenced by his conflicts with the GDR government over censorship and political expression, and capitalist systems, which he critiqued for their inherent contradictions and their impact on marginalized communities. During his exile in the United States, he actively sought to raise awareness among Americans about the dangers of Nazism and fascism, advocating for a united anti-fascist front.

2.2. Human Rights and Peace Advocacy

A consistent advocate for human rights, Heym championed freedom of expression and the rights of the voiceless. He dedicated himself to improving the conditions of laborers, women, children, and ethnic minorities. His commitment to peace extended to his involvement in the anti-nuclear movement, for which he received the peace medal from the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). Heym was also a vocal critic of the GDR's "culture of hiding" and its suppression of open dialogue, arguing that only an environment that allowed "fearless discussion, taboo-free discussion, and questioning of the obvious" could lead to genuine societal progress. His works consistently reflected his profound belief in human dignity and the necessity of challenging power structures that undermined individual liberties.

3.1. Major Works in English

Heym's early works were primarily written in English, achieving significant success.

• Nazis in the U.S.A., New York 1938
• Hostages, New York 1942 (German translation: Der Fall Glasenapp^German, Leipzig 1958). This was Heym's first novel and became a bestseller. It drew upon his family's experiences of persecution and depicted the anti-Nazi underground movement in Czechoslovakia.
• Of Smiling Peace, Boston 1944
• The Crusaders, Boston 1948 (German translation by Werner von Gruenau: Der bittere Lorbeer^German, also published as Kreuzfahrer von heute^German, Leipzig 1950). This novel, based on his war experiences, was praised for its journalistic realism in portraying a historical era.
• The Eyes of Reason, Boston 1951 (German translation by Ellen Zunk: Die Augen der Vernunft^German, Leipzig 1955)
• Goldsborough, Leipzig 1953 (German translation by the author: Goldsborough^German, Leipzig 1953)
• The Cannibals and Other Stories, Berlin 1958 (German translations by the author and Ellen Zunk: Die Kannibalen und andere Erzählungen^German, Leipzig 1953). This collection includes a short story about an American family.
• A visit to Soviet science, New York 1959
• The Cosmic Age, New Delhi 1959 (German translation: Das kosmische Zeitalter^German, Berlin 1959)
• Shadows and Lights, London 1963 (German translation: Schatten und Licht^German, Leipzig 1960)
• The Lenz Papers, London 1964 (German translation: Die Papiere des Andreas Lenz^German, Leipzig 1963, also published as Lenz oder die Freiheit^German). This work concerns the failed revolutions in Germany in 1848, specifically the 1849 Baden Revolution.
• The Architects (written circa 1963-1965, unpublished at the time; published in German as Die Architekten^German, Munich 2000; published in English under "The Architects" by Northwestern in 2005).
• Uncertain Friend, London 1969 (German translation: Lassalle^German, Munich 1969).
• The King David Report, New York 1973 (German translation: Der König-David-Bericht^German, Munich 1972). This novel offers numerous anecdotes from King David's life that are not included in the Bible.
• The Queen against Defoe, London 1975 (German translation: Die Schmähschrift oder Königin gegen Defoe^German, Zurich 1970).
• Five Days in June, London 1977 (concerning the 1953 uprisings in the GDR). This book was published in West Germany in 1974 after being rejected for publication in the GDR.
• Collin, London 1980 (German title: Collin^German, 1979). This novel was published in West Germany without official permission from the GDR authorities, leading to Heym's expulsion from the GDR Authors Association.

3.2. Major Works in German

After 1976, Heym increasingly wrote in German, especially as his ability to publish within the GDR became restricted.

• Kreuzfahrer von heute^German (The Crusaders), Paul List, Leipzig/Munich 1950
• Forschungsreise ins Herz der deutschen Arbeiterklasse. Nach Berichten 47 sowjetischer Arbeiter^German (Research Trip into the Heart of the German Working Class. According to Reports of 47 Soviet Workers), Tribüne Verlag und Druckereien des FDGB, Berlin 1953
• Goldsborough^German (Goldsborough), Paul List, Leipzig 1953, also by Goldmann, Munich 1953
• Goldsborough oder die Liebe der Miss Kennedy^German (Goldsborough or the Love of Miss Kennedy), Paul List, Leipzig 1954
• Reise ins Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten. Ein Bericht^German (Journey to the Land of Unlimited Possibilities. A Report), Tribüne-Verlag, Berlin 1954
• Im Kopf - sauber. Schriften zum Tage^German (Clean in the Head - Writings of the Day), Paul List Verlag, Leipzig 1954
• Tom Sawyers grosses Abenteuer. Von Hanus Burger und Stefan Heym^German (Tom Sawyer's Great Adventure. By Hanus Burger and Stefan Heym), Dramaturgie des Theaters der jungen Garde Halle, Halle/Saale 1956
• Offen gesagt. Neue Schriften zum Tage^German (Frankly Speaking. New Writings of the Day), Volk und Welt, Berlin 1957
• Fünf Kandidaten^German (Five Candidates), Herausgegeben vom Agitationsausschuß der Nationalen Front des demokratischen Deutschland, Berlin 1957
• Der Fall Glasenapp. Roman^German (The Glasenapp Case. Novel), Paul List Verlag, Leipzig 1958 (English: Hostages)
• Schatten und Licht. Geschichten aus einem geteilten Land^German (Shadows and Lights. Stories from a Divided Land), Leipzig: List, 1960 (English: Shadows and Lights)
• Die Papiere des Andreas Lenz^German (The Lenz Papers), Paul List, Leipzig 1963 (English: The Lenz Papers)
• Casimir und Cymbelinchen^German (Casimir and Cymbelinchen), Kinderbuchverlag Berlin, Berlin 1966
• Lassalle^German (Lassalle), Bechtle, Munich 1968; First publication in the GDR: Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1974 (English: Uncertain Friend)
• Die Schmähschrift oder Königin gegen Defoe; Erzählt nach den Aufzeichnungen eines gewissen Josiah Creech^German (The Lampoon or Queen vs. Defoe; Told after the Notes of a Certain Josiah Creech), Diogenes Verlag, Zurich 1970; First publication in the GDR: Reclam, Leipzig 1974 (English: The Queen against Defoe)
• Der König David Bericht^German (The King David Report), Kindler Verlag, Munich 1972; First publication in the GDR: Der Morgen, Berlin 1973 (English: The King David Report)
• Fünf Tage im Juni^German (Five Days in June), C. Bertelsmann, Munich/Gütersloh/Vienna 1974; First publication in the GDR: Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1989 (English: Five Days in June)
• Cymbelinchen oder der Ernst des Lebens^German (Cymbelinchen or the Seriousness of Life), C. Bertelsmann, Munich/Gütersloh/Vienna 1975
• Das Wachsmuth-Syndrom^German (The Wachsmuth Syndrome), Berliner Handpresse, Berlin (West) 1975
• Erzählungen^German (Stories), Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin (Ost), 1975
• Die richtige Einstellung und andere Erzählungen^German (The Right Attitude and Other Stories), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1976
• Erich Hückniesel und das fortgesetzte Rotkäppchen^German (Erich Hückniesel and the Continued Little Red Riding Hood), Berliner Handpresse, Berlin (West) 1977
• Collin^German (Collin), C. Bertelsmann, Munich/Gütersloh/Vienna 1979; First publication in the GDR: Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1990 (English: Collin)
• Der kleine König, der ein Kind kriegen mußte und andere neue Märchen für kluge Kinder^German (The Little King Who Had to Have a Child and Other New Fairy Tales for Clever Children), Goldmann, Munich 1979; First publication in the GDR: Der Morgen, Berlin 1985
• Wege und Umwege. Streitbare Schriften aus fünf Jahrzehnten^German (Paths and Detours. Controversial Writings from Five Decades), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1980
• Ahasver^German (Ahasver), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1981; First publication in the GDR: Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1988 (English: The Wandering Jew)
• Atta Troll. Versuch einer Analyse^German (Atta Troll. An Attempt at Analysis), C. Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich 1983
• Nachdenken über Deutschland. Stefan Heym und Günter Grass diskutieren am 21. November 1984 in Brüssel^German (Reflecting on Germany. Stefan Heym and Günter Grass Discuss on November 21, 1984 in Brussels), Goethe-Institut, Brussels 1984
• Schwarzenberg^German (Schwarzenberg), C. Bertelsmann, Munich/Gütersloh/Vienna 1984; First publication in the GDR: Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1990. This novel is about the Free Republic of Schwarzenberg.
• Reden an den Feind^German (Speeches to the Enemy), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1986; First publication in the GDR: Neues Leben, Berlin 1986. This collection includes texts from his psychological warfare work during World War II.
• Nachruf^German (Obituary), Munich 1988; First publication in the GDR: Der Morgen, Berlin 1990. This is Heym's autobiography.
• Meine Cousine, die Hexe und weitere Märchen für kluge Kinder^German (My Cousin, the Witch and Other Fairy Tales for Clever Children), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1989
• Auf Sand gebaut^German (Built on Sand), Munich 1990. A collection of short stories.
• Stalin verlässt den Raum. Politische Publizistik^German (Stalin Leaves the Room. Political Journalism), Reclam Verlag, Leipzig 1990. This collection comprises political writings.
• Einmischung. Gespräche, Reden, Essays^German (Interference. Conversations, Speeches, Essays), C. Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich 1990
• Filz: Gedanken über das neueste Deutschland^German (Corruption: Thoughts on the Newest Germany), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1992
• Radek. Roman^German (Radek. Novel), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 1995 (published in English in 2022). This novel reflects on "the wrong birth of revolution" by examining the comrades of Lenin and Trotsky.
• Der Winter unsers Missvergnügens^German (The Winter of Our Discontent), Wilhelm Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1996.
• Immer sind die Weiber weg und andere Weisheiten^German (The Women Are Always Gone and Other Wisdoms), Marion von Schröder Verlag, Düsseldorf 1997
• Pargfrider^German (Pargfrider), C. Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich 1998. This is an autobiographical novel.
• Stefan Heym. Im Gespräch mit Dirk Sager^German (Stefan Heym. In Conversation with Dirk Sager), Ullstein Tb, Berlin 1999
• Die Architekten. Roman^German (The Architects. Novel), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 2000 (English: The Architects)
• Michael Martens: Es gibt Ideen, die Jahrtausende überstehen. Ein Gespräch zur Person und über die Zeit mit Stefan Heym^German (There Are Ideas That Last Millennia. A Conversation about the Person and the Time with Stefan Heym), Boldt, Winsen/Luhe, Weimar 2001
• Immer sind die Männer schuld. Erzählungen^German (The Men Are Always to Blame. Stories), C. Bertelsmann, Munich 2002
• Offene Worte in eigener Sache. Gespräche, Reden, Essays 1989-2001^German (Frank Words on My Own Behalf. Conversations, Speeches, Essays 1989-2001), btb Verlag bei Wilhelm Goldmann Verlag, Munich 2003

3.3. Themes and Literary Style

Stefan Heym's literary works are characterized by recurring themes of resistance, freedom, and social justice. He consistently explored the meaninglessness of war, the importance of solidarity among marginalized groups, and the dangers of authoritarianism, particularly Stalinism. His advocacy for the anti-nuclear peace movement also found expression in his writings. A distinctive aspect of his literary style was his use of historical and biblical narratives as a means of parodying and commenting on contemporary social and political realities. This technique, exemplified in novels like The King David Report and Ahasver, allowed him to lend validity and relevance to his factual portrayals of societal issues, often circumventing censorship by embedding his critiques within seemingly historical or mythical contexts.

5.1. Critical Acclaim

Heym was widely praised for his literary achievements, particularly for his ability to infuse his narratives with journalistic realism, as seen in works like The Crusaders. He was recognized as a perpetual dissident, a courageous voice who consistently challenged the status quo, whether it was Nazism, McCarthyism, or the authoritarian regime of the GDR. His contributions to social and political discourse were highly valued, as he used his platform to advocate for human rights, freedom of expression, and social justice. His consistent stance against oppression and his dedication to a more humane society earned him respect from many, both within and outside Germany.

5.2. Controversies and Criticisms

Despite his acclaim, Heym's political stances and his complex relationship with the GDR regime led to several controversies and criticisms. His conflicts with GDR authorities were frequent, resulting in censorship, publication bans, and multiple convictions for publishing his works in West Germany without official permission. These actions led to his exclusion from the GDR Authors Association.

In 1948, after the publication of The Crusaders, Heinrich Eduard Jacob criticized Heym in the German-Jewish magazine Aufbau^German. Jacob argued that Heym had only seen "fragments of a 'tired' Paris and 'his' front line from the side of the liberators," considering Heym's portrayal insufficient and prone to "misunderstanding." Jacob felt that Heym was "taking advantage of the fact that his book is widely read and popular today (1948) in a non-neutral foreign country" and "providing surprises, but should know how quickly it can be misunderstood."

Later, during his opening speech to the Bundestag in 1994, Heym faced a notable lack of applause from the CDU/CSU faction. This was partly due to suspicions among some members that Heym, despite his prominent role as a dissident writer, might have been an informant for the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. These suspicions, though never definitively proven, contributed to the contentious reception of his political engagement in post-reunification Germany.

6.1. Film and Television Adaptations

• Hostages / Der Fall Glasenapp^German (USA 1943), directed by Frank Tuttle, with Luise Rainer and Arturo de Córdova.
• Lenz oder die Freiheit^German (Lenz or Freedom), a four-part television series (4 x 90 minutes), produced by SWF Baden Baden in 1986/87, directed by Dieter Berner.
• Collin^German, a two-part television film for ARD in 1981, directed by Peter Schulze-Rohr, starring Curd Jürgens and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
• Die Frau des Architekten^German (The Architect's Wife), an ARD production from 2003, directed by Diethard Klante, featuring Jeanette Hain and Robert Atzorn.

6.2. Audio Adaptations

Heym's works have also been adapted into radio dramas and released as audiobooks, often featuring his own readings.

• Radio Dramas:
  • Der König David Bericht^German (The King David Report), an audio CD released in March 2000, produced by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk.
  • The Crusaders: Der bittere Lorbeer / Kreuzfahrer von heute^German (The Bitter Laurel / Crusaders of Today), a four-audio CD set released in March 2004.
• Author Readings (Audio):
  • Nachruf^German (Obituary), an audio CD released in May 2002, featuring an abridged reading by Heym himself.
  • Die Architekten^German (The Architects), a two-audio CD set released in July 2000, featuring an abridged public reading by the author with an introduction by Peter Hutchinson.
  • Ahasver^German (Ahasver), a ten-audio CD set released in March 2001.
  • Rette sich wer kann und andere Geschichten aus der Wendezeit^German (Save Yourself Who Can and Other Stories from the Turning Point), an audio CD released in March 2000.
  • Wie es mit Rotkäppchen weiterging und andere Märchen für kluge Kinder^German (How Little Red Riding Hood Continued and Other Fairy Tales for Clever Children), an audio CD released in March 2000.
  • Die Schmähschrift oder Königin gegen Defoe^German (The Lampoon or Queen vs. Defoe), a two-audio CD set released in October 2000.
  • Das Wachsmuth-Syndrom und Die heilige Katharina^German (The Wachsmuth Syndrome and Saint Catherine), an audio CD released in 2001.
  • Immer sind die Weiber weg und andere Weisheiten^German (The Women Are Always Gone and Other Wisdoms), a three-audio CD set released in July 2001.
• Other Readings (Audio):
  • Immer sind die Männer schuld^German (The Men Are Always to Blame), a two-audio CD set released in March 2003, featuring an abridged reading by Gustl Weishappel.