20 Interesting Facts About Erich Maria Remarque

One of the most renowned writers of the past century, Erich Maria Remarque, made a significant mark on the literary world with several famous works. He lived during the challenging period between the two World Wars, which left a profound impact on his writing. Remarque devoted his life to the craft of writing and achieved great fame. However, despite his success, his views made him a persona non grata in his own homeland.

Facts from the Biography of E. M. Remarque:

1. At birth, he was given the middle name “Paul.” Later, after the death of his mother, Anna Maria, Remarque, deeply affected by the tragedy, changed his middle name to “Maria” in her memory.
2. Throughout his life, Remarque held various jobs—accountant, sales clerk, tombstone salesman, piano teacher, and many others.
3. In his youth, Remarque planned to become a teacher.
4. At one point, Remarque had a relationship with one of the most famous actresses of the 20th century, Marlene Dietrich. However, he later married another woman who had been the former wife of Charlie Chaplin.
5. In 1933, Remarque’s works were banned in Germany, and his books were burned by students at demonstrations. German society accused the writer of betraying the memory of the heroes of World War I.
6. After moving from Germany to Switzerland, Erich Maria Remarque “Frenchified” his surname, changing its spelling from “Remark” to “Remarque.”
7. In 1931, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature for his famous novel All Quiet on the Western Front, but his candidacy was ultimately rejected due to opposition from the German Officers’ Union.
8. Remarque referred to himself as a “militant pacifist.”
9. For some time after World War I, he lived in a Romani camp.
10. In 1943, Remarque’s sister was arrested in Germany on charges of anti-war activities, subsequently sentenced, and executed. The writer learned of her death only after the war and dedicated his book The Spark of Life to her.
11. The 1930 film adaptation of his novel All Quiet on the Western Front won two Oscars. Remarque used a significant portion of the money he earned from the film to purchase paintings by famous artists, including Renoir and Van Gogh.
12. During World War I, Remarque was drafted into the army and served on the front lines, where he was wounded several times. He was even nominated for the Iron Cross First Class but demonstratively refused the prestigious award and returned to the front to fulfill his duty.
13. The writer was married several times. His relationship with his first wife didn’t work out, but that didn’t stop him from helping her emigrate first to Switzerland and then to the United States. Additionally, he supported her financially for the rest of her life and left her a substantial sum of money in his will.
14. Throughout his life, Erich Maria Remarque maintained a stylish appearance, regardless of the circumstances. It was almost impossible to see him without a tie.
15. During World War II, Joseph Goebbels, the chief propagandist of Nazi Germany, launched a large-scale campaign to discredit and tarnish Remarque’s reputation.
16. Erich Maria Remarque had a fondness for antique items. After buying a house in Switzerland, he furnished it with antique furniture.
17. The writer claimed that music was his source of inspiration.
18. Remarque spent nine years in the United States before finally returning to Europe.
19. The works of Erich Maria Remarque are often compared to those of another representative of the “Lost Generation,” Ernest Hemingway.
20. Germany stripped him of his citizenship, and despite receiving several honorary German awards in the 1960s, his citizenship was never reinstated.