Origins & Early Life

Erich Maria Remarque (; German: [ˈeːʁɪç maˈʁiːa ʁəˈmaʁk] ; born Erich Paul Remark; 22 June 1898 – 25 September 1970) was a German novelist. His 1928 landmark novel All Quiet on the Western Front, which was based on his experience in the Imperial German Army during World War I, was an international bestseller which created a new literary genre of veterans writing about conflict. The book was adapted to film several times. Remarque's anti-war themes led to his condemnation by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as "unpatriotic".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was able to use his literary success and fame to relocate to Switzerland as a refugee, and to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen. Remarque was born on 22 June 1898, as Erich Paul Remark, to Peter Franz Remark (1867–1954) and Anna Maria née Stallknecht (1871–1917), a working-class Roman Catholic family in Osnabrück. He was never close with his father, a bookbinder, but he was close with his mother and he began using her middle name Maria, after World War I, in her honor. Remarque was the second of four children. His siblings were his older brother Theodor Arthur (1896–1901), who died at the age of five, and his younger...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alvar Aalto — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering Finnish architect whose total art approach defined modern Nordic design.
• Ariel Durant — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Ukrainian-born American historian, coauthor of The Story of Civilization.
• Armand Hammer — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): American oil tycoon, entrepreneur, and philanthropist known for Soviet ties.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Shared historical date (06-22 · Born) (1940): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Adam Schiff — Shared historical date (06-22 · Born) (1960): Long-serving Democratic politician, former Congressman, and current U.S. Senator from California.
• Ambrogio Spinola — Shared historical date (09-25 · Died) (1630): Italian-Spanish nobleman and general, renowned for his military prowess in the Spanish Empire.
• Assata Shakur — Shared historical date (09-25 · Died) (2025): Black American activist, revolutionary, and fugitive known for her political militancy.
• 1898 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1898
• June 22 (06-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 22
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• September 25 (09-25) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 25