Thomas Mann's legacy: 150 years of great writer and democrat

Thomas Mann's legacy: 150 years of great writer and democrat

Celebrated anniversary! Thomas Mann would have celebrated his 150th birthday on June 6, 2025. This important German writer, who lived from 1875 to 1955, left behind a lasting legacy that remains highly valued in literary history. Mann, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929 for his masterpiece “Buddenbrooks,” always combined his literary work with social commitment.

Mann showed optimism for democracy, especially in difficult times. After the National Socialists seized power in 1933, he left Germany with his wife Katja. During their years in exile they first lived in Switzerland, Hungary and France before emigrating to the USA in 1938. During this time he became a vocal opponent of Nazism and gave a series of radio speeches on the BBC that were broadcast from 1940 to 1945. A total of 55 of these speeches were produced, which dealt with political and war-related topics and were intended to reach the German population, even though it was often considered a “broadcasting crime” to listen to foreign broadcasters. His address was completed on New Year's Day 1946 with a special focus on the Germans' hope for peace and self-understanding. Archive.org reports on Mann's contentious disputes with the Nazi regime and his warnings for reconciliation.

Shocking return and powerful speech

A particularly memorable moment in Mann's life was his return to Germany in 1949, sixteen years after his emigration. Here he gave a powerful speech in which he called on Germans to engage in critical self-reflection. He criticized nationalism and widespread self-pity and predicted reunification, even if this attracted many critics in the West. However, Mann did not allow himself to be discouraged and expressed consolation to the Germans in East and West. This shows once again that he lived in the conviction that the future unity of Germany was inevitable. Superillu highlights how his words are still relevant today.

The literary legacy and the relevance of his voice

Thomas Mann's literary work is not only characterized by his stories, but also by his resistance to the Nazi regime. In contrast to many of his contemporaries, whose works were affected by the Nazi book burnings, his literary work remained untouched. Nevertheless, he suffered direct losses as a result of the persecution of his relatives, such as his brother Heinrich and son Klaus. Mann's speeches during the war are an impressive testimony to his commitment and good intuition to correctly assess the political situation and strengthen the morale of the German population.

Literature in the “Third Reich” was characterized by anti-Semitism and a leader cult, as bpb describes. Mann, on the other hand, and many other anti-fascist writers - such as Franz Werfel and Bertolt Brecht - actively dealt with the horrors of National Socialism, creating a cultural legacy that continues to have an impact today and is of great concern to us in times of polarization.

Although Thomas Mann died in Switzerland in 1955, his work remains a shining example of the unceasing struggle for democracy and humanity, and his 150th birthday offers us all the opportunity to trace the spirit of his writings and ideas. The theme of this celebration is not just his literary achievements - but his legacy, which calls on us to protect and defend democratic values.