Includes his masterpiece, the tin drum. He was a polarizing figure, criticizing political movements on the left and right. Seen for decades as an embodiment of he served in the ss during world war ii. Steve it is his literary magazine he will be remembered for. The german president embracing for capturing the fears and longings for generations. He made an appearance to celebrate the opening of the state of a stage adaptation of his most popular work, the tin drum. Edit just on whether the question of ordinary germans were responsible for nazi germany. It is as if evil spirits came along and seduced the poor german people. As a teenager i knew that was false. Born in 1927 he fond in world war ii, eventually taken prisoner by u. S. Forces. He trained as a stonemason and studied art. In the 50s he joined a group of writers known as group 47. He became one of germanys most influential authors. He wrote the tin trauma, a truly great novel. I devoured it when you devoured it when i was a you