Erich Maria Remarque

Date of Birth: June 22, 1898

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: September 25, 1970

Biography

Erich Maria Remarque was a renowned German novelist, best known for his landmark work “All Quiet on the Western Front” (“Im Westen nichts Neues”), which vividly depicted the harrowing experience of soldiers during World War I. Born as Erich Paul Remark on June 22, 1898, in Osnabrück, Germany, Remarque changed his middle name to Maria in honor of his mother and adjusted his last name to Remarque, which he believed to be the original French spelling. Remarque’s literary career began in earnest after his experiences as a soldier during World War I, where he was wounded several times. His firsthand experience of the brutalities of war deeply influenced his writing. “All Quiet on the Western Front,” published in 1928, became an international bestseller and was later adapted into an acclaimed film. The book’s unflinching portrayal of the futility and devastation of war struck a chord worldwide, earning both acclaim and criticism, particularly from the Nazi regime, which banned and burned his books. In addition to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Remarque wrote several other novels, including “The Road Back” (“Der Weg zurück”), “Three Comrades” (“Drei Kameraden”), and “Arch of Triumph” (“Arc de Triomphe”). His works often explored themes of loss, exile, and the search for meaning in a shattered world. Remarque’s life was marked by tumult and displacement. Fleeing Nazi persecution, he emigrated to Switzerland and later settled in the United States, where he continued to write and became a naturalized citizen. He married actress Paulette Goddard in 1958, and they remained together until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Erich Maria Remarque

1. Erich Maria Remarque’s original surname was Remark, and he adjusted it to Remarque to reflect his family’s French heritage.

2. “All Quiet on the Western Front” was banned and burned by the Nazi regime, which viewed it as unpatriotic.

3. Remarque’s sister, Elfriede Scholz, was executed by the Nazis in 1943 because of her connection to him and his anti-war stance.

4. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1947 after emigrating to escape Nazi persecution.

5. Remarque was an avid art collector and owned works by famous artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Erich Maria Remarque

1. “This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it.”

2. “We have so much to say, and we shall never say it.”

3. “A hospital alone shows what war is.”

4. “Life did not intend to make us perfect. Whoever is perfect belongs in a museum.”

5. “It’s only terrible to have nothing to wait for.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Erich Maria Remarque’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million, largely accrued from his successful novels and their adaptations.