No Ordinary Soldier: An examination of the intent and content within Storm of Steel

Jonathan Bannick
Fascism and the Arts
20 January 2015

Introduction
One hundred years ago, a storm of violence shaped and destroyed millions of lives
throughout the world. Alongside the radical thoughts that emerged following the end of the war,
a German soldier named Ernst Jnger published an account of the war titled Storm of Steel.
Today, Jngers account remains one of the most influential and controversial war books in
history. Jngers story presents vivid, powerful, and often disturbing images of life during the
WWI. Many readers perceive that Jnger found joy in the war and that his account sought to
glorify it. Critics are further disturbed by the fact that this book was highly celebrated by leaders
of the Nazi party and other fascist groups. Despite the similarities between Storm of Steel and the
fascist ideology of the Nazi party, several important differences exist as well. Jnger opposed
elements of the Third Reich criticized the leaders on multiple occasions including his 1939 novel
On the Marble Cliffs (Hoffman ix). Jnger also declined an offer to serve in the Reichstag during
the time of fascism in Germany. Most importantly, Jngers motivation for writing his account
differed vastly from the motivations of the Nazi leaders who celebrated his work.
In order to accurately understand Jngers complex work, one must examine the
similarities and differences between his ideas and the ideas of Fascist leaders at the time. The
turn of the 20th century was marked by changes throughout every corner of the world. Even prior
to the beginning of WWI radical ideas were already brewing among individuals fascinated with
an ever changing world. In 1909, Filippo Marinetti published his work The Futurist Manifesto.
(Danchev 1). An Italian by birth, Marinetti illustrated the conflict that existed between the
changing world and the tradition of the past. A nearly fatal experience inspired Marinetti to
embrace the ever-changing world in which he was living.

From this paper, the Futurist movement was born. As the name suggests, the group was
focused on the world that is to come and rejects the world of the past. Concepts such as violence,
industry, and war were promoted and even revered. Through the war and during its aftermath,
Marinettis ideas would become even more influential and important. Marinetti would also go
one to play an important role in Mussolinis Fascist Government (Danchev 1). In addition to
influencing leaders of his own country, Marinettis radical ideas also spread north to Germany
where they began to take root through the vision of the Nazi Party (Danchev 1).
Of the many thoughts and ideas pertaining to this era, three in particular play an
important role in understanding Jngers work. Fascism promoted a strong sense of cultural
superiority and regarded members of other races and cultures as inferior. Additionally, the
concept of hierarchy played an extremely important role in the construction and development of
society. Finally, the fascists of the 20th century found both necessity and joy in war. Using these
three themes as a lens through which to view Storm of Steel, a reader can further distinguish the
differing perspectives between Jnger and the fascist ideologues of his time, as well as the Nazis
who were to come.

Cultural Superiority
Although a general consensus exists concerning the principles and ideas of fascism,
distinguishing between different schools of thought remains important. For example, Marinettis
words in the Futurist Manifesto did not concern ethnic differences. Marinetti vehemently
opposed the reverence paid towards older elements of Italian culture but never talked about one

race of individuals being superior to another. In contrast, ethnic differences were a cornerstone
for Nazi ideology. The ethnicity of an individual could mean life or death.
Nazi cultural ideology had two intentions. First, the Nazi party hoped to create a deep
sense of pride in their own identity. The goal and obligation of the German people was to spread
their way of life across the world. The second element involved the ways in which Germans
should view those who are different from them. Other cultures, ways of life and even groups of
people were thought to be uncivilized and inferior.
The origin of this ideology is heavily influenced by the events of the previous decades.
The concept of a unified German nation was still relatively recent. At the beginning of WWI, the
new empire had existed for just over forty years. While there were no clear victors of WWI,
Germany was one of the biggest losers. Allied powers blamed Germany for a large part of the
destruction in WWI and sought to punish the country and its people. Germany languished under
the pressure of these decisions and grew to resent the countries that had imposed such harsh
measures upon it. As a relatively new country, passions were inclined to be even more extreme.
The success of the Nazi party relied on creating a sense of pride for a people who were
already embarrassed about their past. An important element of this pride was to promote the
nobility of the German cause even when others had condemned it in the past. The actions of the
Germans during WWI were seen as aggressive by Western powers. Storm of Steel offered a
perfect way to celebrate the German identity and the new way of life that the Nazi party hoped to
promote.
Jnger was a seemingly perfect role model for the Nazi cause. He was a celebrated war
hero who clearly loved the country he served. On numerous occasions throughout the book, he

expresses his love for his country and the pride that he feels about it. One specific occasion
occurs as he is riding on a train back to his hometown of Heidelberg after being wounded in
combat. From a train Jnger describes his view: At the sight of the Neckar Slopes wreathed
with flowering cherry trees, I had a strong sense of having come home. What a beautiful country
it was, and eminently worth our blood and our lives. Never before had I felt its charm so clearly.
I had good and serious thoughts and for the first time I sensed that this war was more than just a
great adventure (Jnger 33).
Jngers words capture the beauty of the country he serves and the passion with which
citizens are called to defend it. He describes that the country is worth our blood and our lives
clearly indicating that he has no reservations about losing his life in battle. This absolute loyalty
was crucial to the development and sustainability of the Nazi Party. Additionally, his comment
stating this war was more than just a grand adventure alludes to the fascist principle of the
transcendent values of war. However, as the book progresses, his words are not consistent with
all elements of what the Nazis hoped to promote. Jnger offers a far more complex view of other
cultures than the Nazis attempt to explain.
To begin, Jnger was not an ordinary soldier. He entered the war as a nineteen year old
private who had rushed away from school in order join the German military. By the end of the
war he was a war hero. As a highly decorated second lieutenant he was also the youngest ever
recipient of the Pour le Mrite, Germanys highest military honor (Hoffman viii). In addition to
his action within the war, he also brought a unique skillset to the trenches. Although he ran away
from school to join the war, he carried with him familiarity with both French and English.
On many occasions throughout the book, Jnger encounters citizens of different
countries. If the book were consistent with Nazi ideology, one might expect Jnger to speak

about how these citizens were inferior and lower than the German people. Rather, Jngers
perspective is complicated and unique.
On several occasions, Jnger clearly shows his disapproval of the actions of people from
other countries. On one occasion, Jnger makes a vivid and disturbing observation after
observing a part of the battlefield. While observing the enemy conditions Jnger states, All
around were dozens more, rotted, dried, stiffened to mummies, frozen in an eerie dance of death.
The French must have spent months in the proximity of their fallen comrades without burying
them (Jnger 25).
Upon initial examination, this quote would seem to affirm elements of Nazi and Fascist
ideology. The image of dead bodies invokes a strong emotional reaction and strikes fear into the
reader. The fact that the French would not bury their dead makes them seem like almost inhuman
and certainly lacking reasonable judgment. However, this quote also has a broader context. In
this passage, Jnger is depicting the enemy, towards whom he would naturally feel distaste.
Additionally, this passage could also be referring to the gruesome nature of war as opposed to
the apparent incivility of another culture. War is a gruesome affair and there numerous instances
where Jnger adamantly presents this fact. Jngers depiction of war will later be discussed
extensively.
While several instances show Jngers distaste for the French, there seems to be less
animosity towards most other cultures. Some battles seem to harden Jngers opinion of the
enemy, other fights seem to reinforce a sense of respect that he has developed for these
individuals. Jnger describes a battle in which he is observing the actions of British soldiers. In
the face of imminent danger and death, Jnger describes how these men fought with honor and

courage. He concludes his observations by stating, This incident, like all of our other encounters
with the Britishers, left us pleasantly impressed with their bravery and manliness (Jnger 125)
Jnger offers several important ideas within this quote. First, when he states like all of
our other encounters he is implying that these acts of courage are not anomalies but rather a
piece of consistent behavior. Additionally, his feeling of being pleasantly impressed implies
that these actions exceeded previous expectations. Perhaps Jnger and other soldiers had been
told that the enemy must be uncivilized and disorderly. This quote shows how he learned from
his observations. He noticed traits about the enemy that he did not expect.
Jngers account appears more inconsistent with fascist ideology when he speaks about
individual enemy soldiers. Nazi ideology condemned entire groups of people assuming that all
are enemies and should be treated accordingly. While Jnger speaks harshly of some, he clearly
identifies with others. He provides a description of an enemy soldier saying He was a tall
fellow, very young, fresh faced, and with fair hair. What a shame that I have to shoot at these
people! went through my head as I saw him (Jnger 83).
The conflicted feeling arising in Jngers heart shows that even in the midst of battle he
has developed a sense of empathy for many of the enemy soldiers. This particular feeling is
prompted by the physical appearance of the man. By the description, one can infer that the
enemy soldier looked very similar to German citizens that Jnger perhaps knew.
Jnger takes the time to illustrate the respect that he has for citizens of other nations even
those with vast differences from his personal background. Throughout the different places that
the German soldiers marched throughout the war they would often encounter citizens from other
cultures. While some soldiers may have been tempted towards harming and abusing the people

of occupied territories, Jnger describes the friendly relationships that he was able to develop
with citizens of different countries.
While occupying a town in Belgium, Jnger develops a friendship with a man from the
town. Jnger fondly states, The half-Flemish, half-Walloon population was very friendly. I had
frequent conversations with the owner of one particular estaminet, a keen socialist and
freethinker of a distinctly Belgian type We chatted away in a blend of Flemish and Lower
Saxon (Jnger 20)
Jnger shows a deep interest in both the culture and the language of different countries.
While he would have likely been critical of socialism, he is still able to relate with this Belgian
man. He appreciates the man for his ability to think freely. For soldiers who rely on order, free
thinking can be unnecessary and even dangerous. Jnger is able to overcome instincts and
recognize the value of free thinkers. Multiple occasions throughout the book illustrate situations
in which Jnger shows his interest in the citizens of other cultures.
While examining the ways in which Jnger looks at enemy soldiers, it is also important to
look at the ways in which German soldiers are portrayed. While Jnger clearly identifies with his
comrades, there are rarely instances when he portrays them as superior in nature to all others.
This is a key contrast from the ideas of the Nazi party who would see soldiers as particularly
superior.
While reading Storm of Steel, readers are more likely to notice a sense of personal
superiority rather than cultural superiority. From both his tone and his descriptions, Jnger often
sounds very arrogant. One does not need to look far to find examples of this phenomenon. Jnger
is extremely proud of military service and wants to make it known. For example, the final page

of the book celebrates the military honor which he received. By placing this as the final thought,
he clearly indicated the importance to which he assigned this event. While many readers would
be justified with calling Jnger egocentric, his personal superiority has not arisen from cultural
superiority but rather is a character trait of Jnger as an individual.
While one it may be difficult to say that Jnger was without cultural bias, he clearly
shows respect to many cultures which the Nazis would not have. This contradiction is an
important way in which Jnger was able to distinguish and distance himself from the leaders and
the ideology of the Nazi Party.

Hierarchy
In addition to cultural ideology, Hierarchy also played a key role in fascist societies.
Control and order were crucial to maintain in all situations. To do so, rigid societies were created
in which everyone had a role. Nazi Germany exemplified this concept. Citizens were all
expected to play a part in the society and some were held in far higher regard than others.
Jngers book displayed all elements of war. One of the key aspects of the military was strict and
often merciless order. Soldiers were expected to fall in line.
On several occasions Jnger describes the importance of leadership within the military.
While leading a raid, Jnger describes an encounter with a group of people who have lost their
commanding officer. He states I came to a deep dugout where a leaderless bunch of men were
cowering in the rain. I took them with me and soon livened up the trench (Jnger 126)
Respect for leadership and officers is felt throughout the duration of Jngers account. It
is also worth noting the way in which Jnger describes the other soldiers as cowering and

seemingly lost. The idea that some men are somehow weak and leaderless is a core tenant of
fascist ideology. The purpose of strict hierarchy would be to keep citizens in line.
In the final dramatic moments of Storm of Steel, Jnger powerfully illustrates the
importance of hierarchy within the German military. Jnger finds himself severely wounded and
will certainly die if he is not rescued. A lower ranking officer puts Jnger on his shoulders where
he recounts the following events. Straight away, they started banging away, as if it were a prize
shot at a funfair. After a few bounds, a soft metallic buzz indicated that Hengstmann had stopped
one. He collapsed gently under me, making no sound, but I could feel that death had claimed him
even before we touched the ground (Jnger 287).
First, one must observe the willingness with which Hengstmann sacrificed his life to save
Jnger. Additionally, the manner in which Jnger receives this act is slightly surprising.
Although he goes on to describe that he is thankful for Hengstmanns sacrifice, he does not seem
tremendously surprised or indebted. Rather, it seems as though he regards the act as part of the
mans obligation as a soldier.
Despite his examples of extreme hierarchy, Jnger also takes time to illustrate the
complexities of military society. A specific example arises when Jnger finds his wounded
brother. Although Jnger is moved to tears, he attempts to suppress the emotion. Jngers brother
offers an observation saying We might both be members of the same regiment, true, but even
this reunion on the battlefield had something special about it (Jnger 178).
This passage highlights several interesting elements of Jngers opinions of hierarchy.
First, Jnger is clearly embarrassed to show emotion and suppresses the impulse to cry at the
sight of his injured brother. An officer would never be expected to cry and any such display

would seem out of place for a fascist mindset. Second, the passage highlights the value that
Jnger places on family. While fascist ideology would make family less important than the
military, Jnger shows that he greatly cares for his brother.
While many occasions occur in which Jnger emphasizes the importance of hierarchy, he
makes no suggestion about how society should be shaped away from the military. In fact, he
makes little mention of any situations away from the battlefield. He makes no plea for this
ideology to be placed in regular society. His deliberate omission of regular society strongly
suggests that his work was not meant to be applied in any way to the regular lives of citizens.

War
Storm of Steel is classified as one of the most important books about War ever written.
Understanding the way in which Jnger experienced and perceived war remains very important.
Many have examined Jngers work and arrived at different conclusions about his opinions.
Some contemporary readers are disturbed by his vivid descriptions and the passion with which
he tells them. Many believe that Jnger enjoyed war and one does not need to look far into the
text to find content to affirm those ideas. In the first chapter, Jnger states, We were enraptured
by war. We had set out in a rain of flowers, in a drunken atmosphere of blood and roses. Surely
the war had to supply us with what we wanted; the great, the overwhelming, the hallowed
experience. We thought of it as a manly action, a merry dueling party of flowered, bloodbedewed meadows (Jnger 5)
The words in this description echo the same bloodlust that many Nazi leaders hoped to
instill within their citizens. For fascist leaders, war was not only necessary but, also a source of

pride and joy. The images of blood and roses are embody the passion of the time. The mention of
masculinity invokes a sense of obligation and expectation for each man in of the time.
Quotes like this were fuel for those in the Nazi party to use when promoting their cause.
The same passion with which Jnger entered the war was one that the Nazi leaders hoped to
maintain among the citizens in their army. Jnger provided the Nazi leaders with plenty of
additional fuel. Jnger goes to great lengths to describe the shots that he fired and the ones that
he endured. While describing the relentless artillery fire, Jnger states I have found a
comparison that captures the situation imagine you are securely tied to a post, being menaced
by a man swinging a heavy hammer (Jnger 81). He takes pride in the brutality that he was
forced to live through.
His passion for the war seemed relentless as after every injury he would eagerly return to
the front lines to face even greater danger. After suffering a blow to the head from an explosion,
Jnger describes the situation by stating In spite of my twofold hemorrhage, I was terribly
excited and told everyone I passed in the trench that they should hurry to line and join the battle
(Jnger 253).
While many readers will remember these quotes that focus so heavily on war,
contradictions to fascist ideology exist within the text. Upon deeper examination, Jngers
account presents a far more complex description of war than the one that the Nazis would hope
to promote. The initial quote that seems so bloodthirsty appears ironic just several pages later as
Jnger is thrust into the horrors of war. Moments after an artillery attack he states, War had
shown its claws, and stripped off its mask of coziness We had barely begun to think about the
enemy, that mysterious treacherous being somewhere (7). The initial exhilaration for war is
replaced by a sense of fear and confusion.

Another difference arises when examining the fascist ideology regarding imperialism and
land expansion. The fascists hoped to spread their ideology and way of life in every direction
imaginable. Hitler embodied this imperialism with his insatiable desire for land and expansion.
Here, Jngers ideology starkly contrasts with the ideas of the Nazis. There is never any mention
of expansion but rather a desire to preserve and protect his own home. Upon reflection, Jnger
states May God permit this splendid country, which has often in its history been the battlefield
for warring armies, to rise again from this war with its old quality intact (Jnger 132). Jngers
deepest desire is not expansion but rather peace from the endless war that has seemed to
consume the country that he loves.
In addition to questioning the foundations of war, Jnger remains skeptical about
violence in general. A powerful example occurs when Jnger witnesses a farming accident where
a mans hand is badly wounded in a small town away from the battlefield. While Jnger
described far worse injuries in which men had lost entire limbs, this situation was particularly
disturbing to him. He describes the wound by stating, The sight of the wound almost made me
ill, I have always been sensitive to such things. I mention this because it seems virtually
unaccountable as I witnessed such terrible mutilation in the course of the following days. Its an
example of the way in which ones response to an experience is actually largely determined by
context (Jnger 91)
Jngers words about the context of the situation have tremendous implications for his
views about war and violence in general. Jnger gladly shares gruesome details about wartime
wounds but away from the battlefield violence seems perverse. Those who believe that Jngers
account glorifies violence must acknowledge the context in which a majority of his account is

written. Jngers account is not concerned with portraying everyday life. Rather, Jngers
account hopes to provide an accurate depiction of the war through the eyes of a soldier.

Conclusion
Storm of Steel remains influential today for several important reasons. First, the book
provides a tremendous tool through which to understand the ideology of individuals at the
beginning of the 20th century and throughout the First World War. Although, the account does
not promote fascism, it is a resource that can be used to better understand fascist ideology.
Specifically, the account provides the opportunity to differentiate between fascist views and
those that share elements similar to fascism.
Second, Jngers words provide a depiction of war unlike any other. While many books
about war have the intention of creating discussion about a vast array of topics, Jngers work
has a relatively singular focus. At every moment possible, Jnger attempts to provide a depiction
of the scenes through the eyes of a soldier. Emotion is raw and unfiltered throughout the duration
of the book. The book is noticeably fragmented. These intentional elements add to the overall
experience of the account.
Finally, Jngers dedication at the beginning of this book offers a key to understanding
his motivation for writing this account. Before any of the words of the war are uttered, Jnger
dedicates his most famous work with a simple phrase For the Fallen. Although Hoffman points
out the initial dedication varied, the current dedication illustrates the lasting legacy that Jnger
hoped to create. Jngers commitment to honor those that lost their lives in war can be found on
multiple occasions throughout his account. For example, a reader of Storm of Steel may notice

that Jnger makes very little effort to develop characters. Readers seem to only learn about the
backgrounds of individuals who died in battle. Hengstmann, the man who lost his life while
carrying Jnger to safety earns a small description; The brave fellow was the son of a teacher in
Letter near Hanover (Jnger 287).
Ernst Jnger carries a tremendous legacy. He experienced nearly all of the 20th century
throughout his long life. He was a decorated war hero and an honored and respected figure.
Finally he captured the essence of one of the greatest struggles in human history. Ernst Jnger
was not a fascist, but rather a witness to the complexities of human nature.

Bibliography

Jnger, Ernst, and Michael Hofmann. Storm of Steel. New York: Penguin, 2004. Print.

Marinetti, Filippo Tommaso. "The Foundation and Manifesto of Futurism." 100 Artists'
Manifestos. By Alex Danchev. London: Penguin, 2011. 1-9. Print.

Declaration of Academic Integrity

Ich versichere, dass ich die Arbeit selbststndig und ohne Benutzung anderer als der
angegebenen Hilfsmittel angefertigt habe. Alle Stellen, die wrtlich oder sinngem aus
Verffentlichungen in schriftlich er oder elektronischer Form entnommen sind, habe ich als
solche unter Angabe der Quelle kenntlich gemacht. Mir ist bekannt, dass im Falle einer falschen
Versicherung die Arbeit mit nicht ausreichend" bewertet wird. Ich bin ferner damit
einverstanden, dass meine Arbeit zum Zwecke eines Plagiatsabgleichs in elektronischer Form
versendet und gespeichert werden kann."

"I hereby declare that the paper presented is my own work. I have employed no other sources or
means except the ones listed. I have clearly marked and acknowledged all quotations or
references that have been taken from the works of others. I understand that my paper will be
marked as "nicht ausreichend - not acceptable" in case my statement is untrue. Moreover, I
consent to my paper being electronically stored and sent in order to be checked for plagiarism."

____________________________________

Datum, Unterschrift
Date, Signature

20/1/15