Ernst Jnger's Epic War Memoir: "The Storm of Steel" (1929)

Scot D. Schroeder: This is a personal history of trench warfare in WW1. This not an examination of the cause, politics, or strategy of the war. This is just the story of one infantry man. It is quite interesting.

United States on Jan 13, 2024

Robert Alldredge: The work is a superb narrative of a combat leader who survived a vicious world war. The author’s style varies from a deep philosophical insight to the bare steel hardness of trench combat. It is a bare knuckles examination of what it was like
to live the existence of a German frontline soldier & small unit leader!

United States on Jan 01, 2024

Max in Fla: Incredible…… actual recollections

United States on Dec 08, 2023

Jesper Rytter Sørensen: The book arrived in great condition.
The seller also provided excellent customer service after a misunderstanding regarding the shipping occurred.

Germany on Sep 07, 2023

thegreenhillsofafrica: Jünger’s memoir of WW1 moves far more rapidly than a memoir such as Goodbye To All That by Graves. Both are excellent works, but with Jünger there is far more warfare, more description of bombardments and the destruction of villages and towns, more detail of what bullets and shrapnel and artillery shells did to soldiers and civilians.

There is with Jünger, far more action, more “you are there and the bullets are coming at you.” Where Graves will say he was gassed, Jünger will tell you explicitly about the burning pain of chlorine gas and how men die in agony. With Jünger, nothing is avoided or hidden. This is what a field of mass casualties looks like, this is what a stomach wound is like, this is what the very suddenness of sudden death is like.

His memoir is far more aggressive and violent than Goodbye To All That or Remarque’s fiction based on his own war experience, All Quiet on the Western Front.

Canada on Sep 02, 2023

Liv: TSOS is an amazing book. It is harsh, it is real, and it is interesting. I highly recommend you reading this book.

Junger is not trying to entertain you or mythologize the battle field. He describes in gruesome detailed the death and destruction of the truly horrifying war. He accounts his journey during multiple battlefields and cities. You will read in a cold and emotional-less way about men and brothers who died and were wounded. This is a great anti-war book for it does not sugar coat the horrors. This book is not good for the faint of heart. After reading this book, I definitely have a deeper understanding and respect for the German people during WW1 and the German people of post-war Germany.

This book was originally Junger’s journal. His opinions and thoughts are seen on these pages. This book is real. Junger talks about his love for his nation, his views on the French and Brits, and his opinions on war. Junger is a man from a pre global-liberal world. His views are nationalistic. He glorifies war in a certain way. While you read, you might be surprise how quickly he can go from talking about a close friend’s death to him attaining a...

United States on Jul 28, 2023

jman jr: 'A ghastly dance of death. The French must have carried on for months without burying their fallen comrades.'

Stunning first hand account of a German's experience on the front during WW1.

It seems this is a very well known book, that I have just recently finished - it's as graphic and as vivid as anybody could dare wish a book to be.

Extremely well written ...

I purchased the Kindle version and others have reported errors and typos, this may be true, however I wouldn't let that put you off buying this version.

As for later revisions/ reworkings of this book by the author - I have no experience with them nor Ido I wish to after reading this particular version.

Suerly, an essential read for any WW1 reader be it in passing or the studous learner to the subject.

Thanks v much.

United Kingdom on Mar 12, 2023

Marceli: A gentleman from the publishing company visited me at my home to ensure I could purchase a copy without hiccups. I was surprised to find him sat on my living room couch when I got home from work. You don't see that kind of customer service these days!

Netherlands on Nov 24, 2022

Anthony Burns: One of the best books from the First World War, and a fascinating insight into the German side of the conflict.

Brazil on Jun 23, 2021

rumseykc: I thoroughly enjoyed Reading Mystery Grove's reprint of this "infamous" edition of Jünger's first book. I have not read the standard copy of Storm of Steel that's commonly purchased from Penguin, but what ever the case may be Jünger's insane four years of are worth reading about. The man saw many of the biggest battles of the Western Front, and amazingly survived nearly being killed seemingly dozens of times. The way he describes these experiences, his fellow soldiers, civilians, the landscapes, the lighthearted moments and the most dark and horrific days is a testament to his writing ability and vivid recollection. Once you read it you understand why this is a war memoir classic. A solid 5!
My only irritation with the book was that it had far more typos than I was expecting. If MGP had given it one more go over, or maybe two this book would get a 5 out of 5 score all round. DO NOT make this a reason to not purchase though. It's still a worthwhile read the typos are just annoying.

Favorite quote from The Storm of Steel: "Helen is spitting in our trenches. Great big bits. We want potatoes. All sizes."

United States on Sep 07, 2020