Herbert Zand
Herbert Zand was an Austrian writer born on November 14, 1923, in the village of Knoppen bei Aussee, Styria. As the only child of impoverished farmers, Zand faced significant educational barriers, particularly after the annexation of Austria by the Third Reich. Despite these challenges, he developed a passion for literature, publishing his first poem at the age of twelve and eventually connecting with established writers who encouraged his literary pursuits. Zand served as a radio operator in the German army during World War II, and his experiences on the Eastern front deeply influenced his writing, culminating in his acclaimed novel "Letzte Ausfahrt" (The Last Sortie), which addressed the horrors and futility of war.
After the war, Zand married Minnie Gutjahr and moved to Vienna, where he wrote several novels and earned prestigious literary awards, including the Austrian State Prize for Literature. His writing often explored themes of survival, hope, and a connection to nature. Despite facing health issues in his later years, Zand remained engaged with the literary community until his passing on July 14, 1970. Though many of his works, including poems and essays, have yet to be translated into English, a collection featuring some of his writings was published posthumously in 1971. Zand's legacy continues to resonate, reflecting the human experience in the face of adversity.
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Subject Terms
Herbert Zand
Poet
- Born: November 14, 1923
- Birthplace: Knoppen bei Aussee, Styria, Austria
- Died: July 14, 1970
- Place of death: Vienna, Austria
Biography
Herbert Zand, the only child of poor, uneducated farmers in the village of Knoppen bei Aussee, Styria, Austria, was born on November 14, 1923. Because his parents, Adolf and Alosia Zand, were unable to provide any educational advantages, Herbert was unable to continue formal schooling after 1938, when the Third Reich annexed Austria. He did enjoy hearing fascinating stories told by his grandparents, and he immersed himself in books provided by his school. At age twelve, he published a poem in a newspaper. Through his German teacher, Zand met some well-known writers who critiqued his writing and encouraged him in his literary efforts.
Zand was drafted into the German army in 1942 and served as a radio operator in the infantry. In July of that year, he was sent to the eastern front, and in 1943, during the troops’ retreat, he was wounded. The following year, Zand experienced the siege of Brest- Litovsk, which he would describe in his 1953 book Letzte Ausfahrt (translated as The Last Sortie, 1955).
At the end of the World War II, Zand returned to Knoppen and wrote his first novel, Die Sonnenstadt (1947; the city of the sun). During the early 1950’s, he became ill, but he recovered sufficiently to marry Minnie Gutjahr on June 16, 1953; they moved to Vienna, where he worked for a publishing house. The childless couple were apparently quite happy; when Zand chose a writing career over farming, his wife accepted his choice and the poverty that accompanied it. Between 1947 and 1961, Zand wrote several novels, but it was Letzte Ausfahrt that brought him the greatest recognition. Chosen as a book of the month in Germany, it won him the Austrian State Prize for Literature. The novel’s translation into English gave it an international readership. Zand had never intended to write about his war experiences, but he finally concluded that he needed to express both the horrors and meaninglessness of war and the hope that was a part of his existential humanistic beliefs.
Other awards that Zand earned include the Prize of the City of Vienna as well as the Peter Rosegger Prize of Styria in 1957. During the 1960’s, Zand won prizes from the Theodor Korner Foundation and the Anton Wildgans Prize of Austrian Industry. In 1968, he began working for the literature division of the Austrian radio network.
Zand’s final years were overshadowed by illness and numerous hospitalizations. In spite of illness, he corresponded with both well-known and beginning writers. Realizing when the end was near, Zand penned a farewell poem, “Ich nehme Abschied” (I take my leave), three days before his death in the Wilhelmner Hospital in Vienna on July 14, 1970. He was buried in the Maria Kumitz cemetery.
Zand’s poems, essays, and short stories have not yet been translated into English; however, a collection of Zand’s work, which includes previously unpublished material, was published in 1971. His works reflect themes of survival, hope, faith in an otherwise senseless universe, and an appreciation of nature and a bond with the land.