Subjects
Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935), German author, Germany -- History -- 1918-1933
Abstract
Critics of intellectuals have focused on the naive idealism of intellectuals and their tendency to withdraw from the political theater, instead concentrating on their respective specialties. Tucholsky did not fit into this group of intellectuals, as he was an active participant in the political debates of the day. He polemicized, satirized and criticized. He wrote poems and cabarets. When he saw a theme which needed to be addressed, he tackled it; often many times. He focused on real issues. His methods of satire and criticism were purposefully used to highlight the real problems faced by Germany. Tucholsky may have not been an active member of a political party, but he definitely was a politically-engaged journalist. He did have a voice worth hearing. Focusing his criticism on the government institutions of the Wilhelmine Reich, Tucholsky above all targeted the military as the major threat to the new Republic. The military's influence stretched throughout society, even to the traditionally pacifistic Social Democratic Party. It was this pervasive influence and the corresponding respect and adulation the military enjoyed from the German public that Tucholsky believed must be destroyed. Concentrating on the early years of the Weimar Republic, specifically 1919 to 1922, this paper will seek to prove the worth of Tucholsky's voice and the value of his efforts for the republicanization of Germany.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/13141
Recommended Citation
Johnson, David
(1995)
"Kurt Tucholsky: Left-Wing Intellectual and Politically-Engaged Journalist,"
Anthós Journal (1990-1996): Vol. 1:
No.
4, Article 5.
Available at:
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/anthos_archives/vol1/iss4/5
