Bodo Uhse
Bodo Uhse was a German writer born in 1904 in Rastatt, who underwent significant political transformations throughout his life. Initially a member of right-wing groups, he joined the Nazi Party in 1927 but became disillusioned and turned to communism by 1930. Uhse's early career as a journalist led him to organize trade unions before going into exile in Paris in 1933, following Adolf Hitler's rise to power. His literary work includes the autobiographical novel "Söldner und Soldat," which explores the allure of Nazism.
Later, he served in the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War, which influenced his subsequent novel "Leutnant Bertram." After seeking asylum in Mexico, he engaged with the German exile community and published works that reflected on the past and warned against the potential consequences of repeating historical mistakes. Upon returning to East Germany in 1948, Uhse took on prominent roles in the literary and political scene, although he faced challenges due to his liberal views. His most notable work, "Die Patrioten," achieved great success and was part of a planned trilogy on German resistance to Nazism. Uhse's sudden death in 1963 left his literary projects unfinished, but his contributions to literature and political discourse continue to resonate.
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Subject Terms
Bodo Uhse
Writer
- Born: March 12, 1904
- Birthplace: Rastatt, Germany
- Died: July 2, 1963
- Place of death: Berlin, Germany
Biography
Bodo Uhse was born in 1904 in Rastatt, Germany, the son of a Prussian officer. As a young man, Uhse was a member of various right-wing groups, finally joining the Nazi Party in 1927. He was expelled from the party in 1930, by which time he had become disillusioned with Nazism and had become a communist. He had been a journalist, and after becoming a communist he started organizing trade unions. In 1933, he went into exile in Paris as Adolf Hitler came to power.
Uhse’s first novel, Söldner und Soldat, covers this period of his life. The novel is autobiographical and describes why people became attracted to the Nazi Party. This novel was a success, spurring Uhse to write a second novel, although half way through writing, the Spanish Civil War erupted and Uhse volunteered to serve in the International Brigade. Leutnant Bertram (1943; Lieutenant Bertram: A Novel of the Nazi Luftwaffe, 1944) eventually was published in 1943. The first half of the book traces the rise of German militarism and describes three different types of officers, with the protagonist, Bertram, the most cynical of the three. The second part of the novel incorporate Uhse’s experiences in Spain, including the siege of Madrid.
In 1939, Uhse traveled to the United States at the invitation of PEN, but because he was a communist, he was not allowed to stay in the country. He managed to find political asylum in Mexico, however, where he joined in the publishing and political work of the country’s German exiles. While in Mexico, he married Alma Agee in 1943, and the couple had two children. The publishing house he helped set up in Mexico published Leutnant Bertram.
Another novel, Wir Söhne, compared events at the end of World War I with the events Uhse believed would occur after World War II. The book, revolving around a group of young people after World War I, warns readers not to repeat the same mistakes that were made during that period. In 1948, Uhse returned to East Germany, which was under communist control. He became the editor of a literary magazine, and from 1950 through 1955, he was a member of the East German Parliament. He also was involved in the Writers’ Union and other political activities. However, in 1958 he was charged with being too liberal and was dismissed from his editorial job.
His most successful novel, Die Patrioten: Roman Erstes Buch, Abscheid und Heimkehr, was published in 1954. Uhse conducted extensive research into the German internal resistance against Hitler, especially by communists, and the novel was the first of a projected trilogy that would fictionalize his research. The novel became an immediate best-seller. Around the same time, many of the short stories and other fiction he had written while in exile were published. Uhse also wrote biographical accounts of other German exiles and resisters, including Thomas Mann and Käthe Kollwitz. His sudden death in 1963 prevented the completion of his trilogy.