The Storm of Steel

By: Ernst Jünger

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

This classic war memoir, first published in 1920, is based on the author's extensive diaries describing hard combat experienced on the Western Front during World War I. It has been greatly admired by people as diverse as Bertolt Brecht and Andre Gide, and from every part of the political spectrum.

Hypnotic, thrilling, and magnificent, The Storm of Steel is perhaps the most fascinating description of modern warfare ever written. Out of the maelstrom of World War I emerge scenes which could have come straight from Dante's Inferno. Once you begin listening, you cannot stop. And it never relents: nerve pounding bombardments, agonizing gas attacks, sudden death that takes down a comrade next to you, and the occasional weeks of relief to restore the spirit when leave is granted to visit some attractive French village...all enveloped in the ghostly confusion of war.

Ultimately, survival comes down to sheer luck. Jünger displays no anger toward his enemies, and near the end he grows fatalistic and weary, even as he redoubles his resolve and maintains his patriotism. Jünger's great book calmly conveys the mysterious attraction of war, the exhilaration of battle, and the undeniable glory of brave men. But he also describes the scenes of soldiers preparing for battle as though they were "some terrible, silent ceremonial that portends human sacrifice."

Public Domain (P)2010 Audio Connoisseur

Excellent primary source

Enjoyed the narrator greatly. Anyone else who enjoyed this should check out Dan Carlins hardcore history series on The Great War.

Wow…Just WOW!

The most lyrical - almost poetic - war memoir I have ever read. A refreshingly unrepentant soldier reports on a horror that can hardly be imagined….and emerges from the hellish cauldron….victorious. No other word for it. Man’s triumph in spite of an unfathomable desolation fashioned by the self-same humanity. A classic that should not be missed.

A Witness to War

“Storm of Steel” was published in 1920 and has been revised a total of six times, the last being with the 1961 re-publication. The structure of the book parallels the structure of the war. The book was a copy of his diary he kept during the war. There is no information about his life prior to 1914. He was 18 when he volunteers for the Army in 1914 and starts his diary. The book is his first person descriptions and features no other person other than Junger. Junger writes a straight forward account of what he did and where he was without very much in the way of soul-searching. The only thing he complains about was that the rations got worse as the war went on. He provides vivid descriptions of the experience of combat. He describes what it was like to undergo an artillery barrage. This is primarily an uncensored account of what war was like for a German soldier on the Western Front.

Junger was deployed in the 73rd Hanoverian Regiment, also called the Rifle Regiment of Price Albrecht of Prussia. In 1915 he deployed to the Champagne region of France. He received many wounds the first in 1915. Following his recovery of this first wound he was redeployed to the Arras region of Northern France and participated in the battle of the Somme in 1916. He defended the City of Guillemot from attack and later fought in the battles of Arras, Ypres, and Cambrai. During the German Spring Offensive of 1918 he suffered the most serious of his wounds, a shot to the chest that ended the war for him. He ended the war as a lieutenant and was one of the most decorated soldiers in the German Army; he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, the Knight Cross, the Ritterkreuz and the Pour le Merite (the German equivalent to the Medal of Honor or the British Victoria Cross)

This book provides the reader with what is was like on day by day bases to be a German soldier during WWI. Charlton Griffin did a good job narrating the book.

The best war memoir ever read

Junger's account is very detailed and exciting. I've read the book twice and listened to the audio 3-4 times now. It's enjoyable every time.
The narration is excellent.

If you must go to war, you might as well embrace it.

The title of my review says it all. The Storm of Steel has been described as a celebration of warfare. It is not. Rather, it is a celebration of manhood when manhood is tested to the limits. For this reason, it is precisely the kind of literature that is needed by today’s soft and misguided generation. There never has been and never will be a substitute for masculine virtues. The Storm of Steel is an account of such virtues—courage, duty, and hardihood among others. Excellent memoir, excellent narration.

An excellent memoir.

Simply an outstanding memoir. Growing up reading "All's Quiet" we tend to forget that the German soldiers were as patriotic and committed and their opponents. It's refreshing to hear from a German soldier who believed in what he was doing and proud of his service to the Kaiser. The Imperial German Army tends to get lumped into the same bucket as the Nazi's so we who have been fed a steady diet of "Allied" History tend to view them as less than human. A particularly pointed passage was when Mr. Junger came across several Highlanders killed, stating "No cowards, these". A very worthwhile read.

Great, but know some French

Fantastic 1st person account of the forest world war. good narration as well. The only issue is they don't translate the French terms, so either ignore then or spend an unreasonable amount of time trying to translate them

Dan Carlin sent me

Vicious story of WWI soldier read very well. Unbelievable memoir, how could someone live through all he experienced?

great

this is a very good book. learn what it means to have national pride. thanks

Felt I was there

Where does The Storm of Steel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

From a first person account I can recall it much more then previous WW1 books. Leaves out the politics's and complexities of he war and brings you to the most simple and intimate, cynical, and gritty details.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ernst Junger, which the story is narrated by and is primary character. But he tells his story in an almost cynical and comedic way. I encourage you to pay particular attention towards the end of the book when Junger is in possession and wearing a British winter coat. Giving the account of the event I laughed out load at is theory of the incident.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The final battle, and his determined and unflinching will and sacrifice for country, in spite of all that happened really moved me, and stood out where I myself felt a sense of pride as if i had been with his every step.