This is a review of the book by an author called Ernst Junger who wrote storm of steel. Junger explains of the experience from the world war one in terms of humanity issues, the nature and the entire life (Junger, 25). Therefore, being a reader, one is taken through the war on the author’s perception as a German soldier who was on the ground at the time. They were many young soldiers in the war Junger tries to explain their experience from the time they went to the front line to fight.
First, Junger had a significance of war since throughout the book; he tries to form a glory to war. This is quite different from other writers who show brutality in war. Also, in the first chapters, he describes about their training in the camp, where he was enthusiastic about experiencing what was extraordinary, which is war since many people do not like to be involved in it. In addition, the author explains a sense of glory as well as passion for the war where he describes how eager the soldiers were to start war and compares this to a rain full of flowers as well as an atmosphere of roses (Junger, 15).
This describes an alienation which most young soldiers had that war would not be brutal or shocking or even the bad weather involved in it. Therefore, the fact that the soldiers set out of the training camp in a rain full of flowers illustrates a positive image of war. Also, Junger had significance for war since he shows a connection that soldiers had with nature through comparison of roses to blood (Junger, 150). This is quite different from the picture that people have of war, which should be a brutal thing.
In addition, Junger was significant since after the war, he was offered the chair of leader of German army in Hitler’s regime which he declines. Moreover, the author received the Iron cross award of first class since he was the youngest soldier to survive the war and was shot fourteen times ( Junger, 210) . As such, the author had extensive experience as well as significance in the world war one.
In relation to magnifying war, the author is faced with alienation by many young soldiers in combat. This means that all the soldiers were passionate and eager to go into war. The first instance is when he describes that experience from the war as extraordinary to the few lucky ones involved. Also, the comparison of war to roses in the book illustrates a fair picture of war. Moreover, war is magnified as uniting all soldiers since they face similar characteristics and he even has a soft spot when he sees dead soldiers (Junger, 49).
However in contrast, the author sees the reality of war when he experiences his first combat. In the whole book, Junger is shot fourteen times and was wounded severally. This changes his picture of war and at one instance his comparison of the earth to the trenches and from roses as earlier seen to dirt kind of work gives the reader a new perception of war. Junger however shows a positive image of war by describing his heroic kind of experience with violence. It shows his connection with the difficult life of being a soldier as positive.
Junger glorifies war through nationalism as well as patriotism by describing the soldiers in war as being heroes in their countries since they have sacrificed their lives for the nation (Junger, 72). He does not value or connect with the soldier in combat but connects with the praise one receives when they return from war. His later involvement in world war two shows his passion foe nationalism.
In conclusion, the author of this book is extraordinary since he has passion for war as opposed to criticism. He has also shown respect for those soldiers who sacrifice their lives for their countries and depicts unity with them. Therefore, the message by Junger is that nationality of a person is the most important thing and everyone should try and sacrifice for their country as this is the legacy that will live forever.
Publication
1. Ernst, Junger. Storm of steel. Germany, Michael Hofmann Press. (2003). Final
