Kurt Tucholsky was a German journalist, satirist, and writer, renowned for his sharp wit and incisive criticism of societal and political issues of his time. His work, characterized by its irony, humor, and deep skepticism of authority, made him one of the most important and controversial voices in Weimar Germany. He published over 2,000 essays, manifestos, poems, critiques, aphorisms, and stories.
Istvan Deak writes about him: "In his writings he hit hard at his main enemies in Germany, whom he identified as haughty aristocrats, bellicose army officers, brutal policemen, reactionary judges, anti-republican officials, hypocritical clergymen, tyrannical professors, dueling fraternity students, ruthless capitalists, philistine burghers, opportunistic Jewish businessmen, fascistic petty-bourgeois, Nazis, even peasants, whom he considered generally dumb and conservative….He is admired as an unsurpassed master of satire, of the short character sketch, and of the Berlin jargon."
Early Life and Education
Born: January 9, 1890, in Berlin, Germany.
Background: Tucholsky came from an assimilated Jewish middle-class family. His early life in Berlin, experiencing the city's cultural vibrancy and political tensions, deeply influenced his outlook.
Literary Career
Pseudonyms: He wrote under various pseudonyms, including Ignaz Wrobel, Theobald Tiger, and Peter Panter. Each alter ego represented different facets of his writing style and thematic focus.
Themes: Tucholsky's work covered a wide range of topics, including democracy, militarism, nationalism, and the role of the media. He was a fierce critic of the Weimar Republic and the rising tide of fascism.
Collaborations: He contributed to several periodicals, most notably “Die Weltbühne,” a weekly magazine that became a platform for his political satire and social criticism.
Notable Works and Quotes
"Rheinsberg: A Storybook for Lovers" (1912): This early work is a light-hearted, romantic tale, quite different from his later, more politically charged writings. Anecdote: The book's success allowed Tucholsky a brief respite from his legal studies, which he found dreary.
Political Writings: His political essays and satires form the core of his legacy. He once famously said, "A country is not just what it does—it is also what it tolerates."
Critique of Militarism: Tucholsky was a relentless critic of militarism and authoritarianism. He famously declared, "Soldiers are murderers," a statement that provoked outrage and legal action against him.
Exile and Later Life
Exile: As the political climate in Germany deteriorated with the rise of the Nazis, Tucholsky, who was Jewish, chose to live in exile, primarily in Sweden.
Depression and Death: His final years were marred by depression and disillusionment with the political situation in Germany and Europe. He died by suicide on December 21, 1935.
Legacy
Influence: Tucholsky's work remains relevant for its critique of authoritarianism, nationalism, and the media's role in society.
Controversy: He continues to be a controversial figure; his sharp criticism of the military and the state was revolutionary for his time and still sparks debate.
Tucholsky's life was a reflection of the turbulent times he lived in. His writings, blending humor with political acuity, provide a window into the Weimar Republic's societal and political complexities. His legacy is not just in what he wrote but in the style he chose to write—a style that made heavy subjects approachable and encouraged critical thinking in his readers.
Eyes in the big city
when you go to work
in the early morning
when you are at the train station
with your worries:
there shows the city
you smooth asphalt
in the human funnel
million faces:
Two foreign eyes, one quick look,
the brow, the pupils, the lids -
What was that? maybe your happiness...
gone, gone, never again.
you go all your life
on a thousand streets;
you see on your way, the
forgot you
one eye beckons
the soul sounds;
you found it
just for seconds...
Two foreign eyes, one quick look,
the brow, the pupils, the lids -
What was that? No one turns back time...
Gone, gone, never again.
You must be on your way
wander through cities;
see a pulse beat long
the strange other.
It can be an enemy
it can be a friend
it can be yours in battle
be comrade.
He looks over
and passes by...
Two foreign eyes, one quick look,
the brow, the pupils, the lids -
What was that?
A piece of great humanity!
Gone, gone, never again.
Augen In Der Großstadt
Wenn du zur Arbeit gehst
am frühen Morgen,
wenn du am Bahnhof stehst
mit deinen Sorgen:
da zeigt die Stadt
dir asphaltglatt
im Menschentrichter
Millionen Gesichter:
Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das? vielleicht dein Lebensglück...
vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.
Du gehst dein Leben lang
auf tausend Straßen;
du siehst auf deinem Gang, die
dich vergaßen.
Ein Auge winkt,
die Seele klingt;
du hast's gefunden,
nur für Sekunden...
Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das? Kein Mensch dreht die Zeit zurück...
Vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.
Du mußt auf deinem Gang
durch Städte wandern;
siehst einen Pulsschlag lang
den fremden Andern.
Es kann ein Feind sein,
es kann ein Freund sein,
es kann im Kampfe dein
Genosse sein.
Er sieht hinüber
und zieht vorüber ...
Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das?
Von der großen Menschheit ein Stück!
Vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.