Vol. 21 · No. 3 · Issue 68 · Fall 2003

Eric Langenbacher

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Abstract

Just ahead of three Harry Potter books, atop Germany's 2002 list of bestselling fiction, was Günther Grass's novel Im Krebsgang, perhaps not so surprising, given the popularity of the country's latest Nobel laureate in literature. What was unexpected from this prominent leftist, however, was the content of the book, which described the sinking of a ship in the final months of World War II and the deaths of thousands of refugees fleeing the advancing Red Army. Even more surprising was the media reaction in Germany and overseas. Almost every major newspaper and magazine, and many television networks, extensively and sympathetically covered the book and the ensuing discussion of the memory of German suffering during the final months and immediate aftermath of the Nazi regime.