Storm of Steel Themes

By a conventional definition, Ernst Jünger could be considered one of the “manliest” figures in literature. At the end of Storm of Steel, Jünger’s 1920 World War I memoir, he casually tallies his wartime injuries: 14 total, with 20 resulting scars. His appetite for battle is ceaseless, and his courage rarely falters. Yet his frequent citation of others’ “manliness” is more complex than his personal exploits might suggest. Though he provides plenty of examples…

World War I was a historical turning point in numerous ways, but one of the most notable is the transformations in the conduct of warfare. Because Storm of Steel is a straightforward recounting of Ernst Jünger’s wartime experiences, he does not reflect at length on these historical trends. However, their broad outlines can be traced from Jünger’s personal narrative. They include such things as the abandonment of pitched battles, the use of gas attacks…

While Storm of Steel is tightly focused on the experiences of Ernst Jünger and his fellow German soldiers, other people—like British and French soldiers, and French and Flemish civilians in occupied lands—make frequent appearances, too. In most respects, Jünger seems to be a product of his early 20th-century nationalistic culture in his attitudes about distancing himself from conquered people and combatants. But his stories of encounters with non-Germans also shed more light on his individual…

Storm of Steel is an undeniably war-ridden book. Jünger enthusiastically chronicles his experiences, from the time he’s a timid young soldier in 1914, to his days as a jaded veteran near the end of the war in 1918. Yet it is hard to call this memoir a celebration of war. In fact, careful attention to Jünger’s narrative shows that, while he remains steadfast and untiring in his duty, there’s little trace of glamor in his…