What do you think?
Rate this book
Strahlungen #II
Radiaciones II: Diarios de la Segunda Guerra Mundial (1943-1948) (Tiempo de Memoria)
La Segunda Guerra Mundial, descrita por uno de sus más conspicuos protagonistas.
Tres diarios componen este magnífico volumen, los titulados «Segundo diario de París», «Hojas de Kirchhorst» y «La cabaña en la viña (Años de ocupación)», que abarcan los años 1943 a 1948. En ellos Jünger cuenta, casi día a día, su experiencia de la ocupación alemana, que, todavía a principios de 1943, parecía encontrar en la vida cotidiana de París cierta plácida resignación. Hasta que, de pronto, se precipitaron los hechos que condujeron a la liberación de la capital francesa, el avance de los Aliados, las muertes de altos mandos alemanes, los bombardeos, incluido el de Dresde, el suicidio de Goebbels, la liberación de los campos de concentración, la persecución de los colaboracionistas y la capitulación, entre otros muchos sucesos que marcaron el fin de la contienda. A todo ello, el pensador alemán añade sus agudos comentarios sobre sus lecturas y sus investigaciones, sus dramas familiares e incluso sus sueños.
Tres diarios componen este magnífico volumen, los titulados «Segundo diario de París», «Hojas de Kirchhorst» y «La cabaña en la viña (Años de ocupación)», que abarcan los años 1943 a 1948. En ellos Jünger cuenta, casi día a día, su experiencia de la ocupación alemana, que, todavía a principios de 1943, parecía encontrar en la vida cotidiana de París cierta plácida resignación. Hasta que, de pronto, se precipitaron los hechos que condujeron a la liberación de la capital francesa, el avance de los Aliados, las muertes de altos mandos alemanes, los bombardeos, incluido el de Dresde, el suicidio de Goebbels, la liberación de los campos de concentración, la persecución de los colaboracionistas y la capitulación, entre otros muchos sucesos que marcaron el fin de la contienda. A todo ello, el pensador alemán añade sus agudos comentarios sobre sus lecturas y sus investigaciones, sus dramas familiares e incluso sus sueños.
881 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
6 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Ernst Jünger
251 books904 followersErnst Jünger was a decorated German soldier and author who became famous for his World War I memoir Storm of Steel. The son of a successful businessman and chemist, Jünger rebelled against an affluent upbringing and sought adventure in the Wandervogel, before running away to briefly serve in the French Foreign Legion, an illegal act. Because he escaped prosecution in Germany due to his father's efforts, Junger was able to enlist on the outbreak of war. A fearless leader who admired bravery above all else, he enthusiastically participated in actions in which his units were sometimes virtually annihilated. During an ill-fated German offensive in 1918 Junger's WW1 career ended with the last and most serious of his many woundings, and he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, a rare decoration for one of his rank.
Junger served in World War II as captain in the German Army. Assigned to an administrative position in Paris, he socialized with prominent artists of the day such as Picasso and Jean Cocteau. His early time in France is described in his diary Gärten und Straßen (1942, Gardens and Streets). He was also in charge of executing younger German soldiers who had deserted. In his book Un Allemand à Paris , the writer Gerhard Heller states that he had been interested in learning how a person reacts to death under such circumstances and had a morbid fascination for the subject.
Jünger appears on the fringes of the Stauffenberg bomb plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler (July 20, 1944). He was clearly an inspiration to anti-Nazi conservatives in the German Army, and while in Paris he was close to the old, mostly Prussian, officers who carried out the assassination attempt against Hitler. He was only peripherally involved in the events however, and in the aftermath suffered only dismissal from the army in the summer of 1944, rather than execution.
In the aftermath of WW2 he was treated with some suspicion as a closet Nazi. By the latter stages of the Cold War his unorthodox writings about the impact of materialism in modern society were widely seen as conservative rather than radical nationalist, and his philosophical works came to be highly regarded in mainstream German circles. Junger ended his extremely long life as a honoured establishment figure, although critics continued to charge him with the glorification of war as a transcending experience.
Junger served in World War II as captain in the German Army. Assigned to an administrative position in Paris, he socialized with prominent artists of the day such as Picasso and Jean Cocteau. His early time in France is described in his diary Gärten und Straßen (1942, Gardens and Streets). He was also in charge of executing younger German soldiers who had deserted. In his book Un Allemand à Paris , the writer Gerhard Heller states that he had been interested in learning how a person reacts to death under such circumstances and had a morbid fascination for the subject.
Jünger appears on the fringes of the Stauffenberg bomb plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler (July 20, 1944). He was clearly an inspiration to anti-Nazi conservatives in the German Army, and while in Paris he was close to the old, mostly Prussian, officers who carried out the assassination attempt against Hitler. He was only peripherally involved in the events however, and in the aftermath suffered only dismissal from the army in the summer of 1944, rather than execution.
In the aftermath of WW2 he was treated with some suspicion as a closet Nazi. By the latter stages of the Cold War his unorthodox writings about the impact of materialism in modern society were widely seen as conservative rather than radical nationalist, and his philosophical works came to be highly regarded in mainstream German circles. Junger ended his extremely long life as a honoured establishment figure, although critics continued to charge him with the glorification of war as a transcending experience.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2019
These notes, for the time being, only concern the Kirchhorster Blätter, Jünger's war-time diaries that cover the period between his departure from nearly-liberated Paris (August 1944) and the taking of Hannover by troops from the US Ninth Army (April 1945). It’s a brilliant collection of reflections, obviously coloured by the general mood of despair of those days. Hannover continued to be the target of ceaseless waves of Allied bombings. Scenes of Piranesian gloom (a Jünger expression) abound in the Blätter. But it hardly surprises that Jünger was also transfixed by the demonic beauty of the colossal squadrons that steamrolled Nazi Germany.
The starless center of gravity of these pages is, however, the death of Jünger’s 18-year old son Ernstel who served in a mechanised infantry (‘Panzergrenadiere’) unit at the Italian front. Ernstel fell late in November ’44, but his parents only learned about it six weeks later. Jünger was shaken to the core: “Der Schmerz ist wie ein Regen, der erst in seiner Masse ablaüft, dann dringt er langsam ins Erdreich ein. Der Geist erfaßt ihn nicht mit einem Mal. Wir traten nun auch in die Wahre, die einzige Gemeinde dieses Krieges ein, in eine geheime Brüderschaft.” (and while the reflection is touching enough the reference to a 'secret brotherhood' also reveals that Jünger is not free from Teutonian kitsch).
From then onwards, thoughts about his son’s death are a sombre motto theme in the diary. For a long time after the war, Jünger remained suspicious about the circumstances of his son’s death. And not without reason, as early in 1944 Ernstel had been arrested while he served as a Marinehelfer, on account of his overt critique on the Nazi regime and on Hitler himself. After almost three months in custody he was discharged, but he felt compelled to quickly join an infantry unit to be safe from interference by the Gestapo. Only in 1995 Jünger received confirmation, in the form of a letter by one of Ernstel’s former comrades, that his son had not been executed by a loyal Nazi supporter in his own unit but was killed by an enemy bullet.
Jünger takes up his reading of the Bible again, starting afresh with the Book of Genesis. Early spring lightens the mood of his reflections. His deep reverence for the unceasing cycle of renewal shines through. And also the dissolution of twelve years of suffocating Nazi regime feels like a blessing. The last days covered by the diary are tense. The arrival of American troops is imminent, the house is flooded by refugees and Jünger is in charge of a Volkssturm unit with orders to delay the enemy tanks as long as possible. He kept his intention to do nothing of the sort concealed so as to avoid last-minute complications with Nazi fanatics. On 10 April the US troops poured into Kirchhorst and the Blätter end.
The starless center of gravity of these pages is, however, the death of Jünger’s 18-year old son Ernstel who served in a mechanised infantry (‘Panzergrenadiere’) unit at the Italian front. Ernstel fell late in November ’44, but his parents only learned about it six weeks later. Jünger was shaken to the core: “Der Schmerz ist wie ein Regen, der erst in seiner Masse ablaüft, dann dringt er langsam ins Erdreich ein. Der Geist erfaßt ihn nicht mit einem Mal. Wir traten nun auch in die Wahre, die einzige Gemeinde dieses Krieges ein, in eine geheime Brüderschaft.” (and while the reflection is touching enough the reference to a 'secret brotherhood' also reveals that Jünger is not free from Teutonian kitsch).
From then onwards, thoughts about his son’s death are a sombre motto theme in the diary. For a long time after the war, Jünger remained suspicious about the circumstances of his son’s death. And not without reason, as early in 1944 Ernstel had been arrested while he served as a Marinehelfer, on account of his overt critique on the Nazi regime and on Hitler himself. After almost three months in custody he was discharged, but he felt compelled to quickly join an infantry unit to be safe from interference by the Gestapo. Only in 1995 Jünger received confirmation, in the form of a letter by one of Ernstel’s former comrades, that his son had not been executed by a loyal Nazi supporter in his own unit but was killed by an enemy bullet.
Jünger takes up his reading of the Bible again, starting afresh with the Book of Genesis. Early spring lightens the mood of his reflections. His deep reverence for the unceasing cycle of renewal shines through. And also the dissolution of twelve years of suffocating Nazi regime feels like a blessing. The last days covered by the diary are tense. The arrival of American troops is imminent, the house is flooded by refugees and Jünger is in charge of a Volkssturm unit with orders to delay the enemy tanks as long as possible. He kept his intention to do nothing of the sort concealed so as to avoid last-minute complications with Nazi fanatics. On 10 April the US troops poured into Kirchhorst and the Blätter end.
Read
April 25, 2025Naja. Stellenweise mehr als rein historisch interessant, was hauptsächlich an wesentlich interessanteren Leuten liegt, die Jünger in Paris trifft. Interessant auch das eigene Verhältnis zum Nationalsozialismus und dem eigenen politischem Selbstbild. Im Gegensatz zum ersten Band wird hier der Holocaust und Antisemitismus deutlich und ernsthaft thematisiert. Auch generell und mit Blick auf den Krieg deutlich weniger ästhetisierend als die Stahlgewitter. Wenn es um das eigene Verständnis von Literatur und philosophieren geht wirklich kitschig, banal und unorigenell aber so bedeutungsschwanger, dass es nur lächerlich und peinlich wirkt.
Verstehe nicht wie man das auf ernst als große Literatur oder sogar als "Kunstwerk" sehen kann, wie es der Klappentext anpreist
Verstehe nicht wie man das auf ernst als große Literatur oder sogar als "Kunstwerk" sehen kann, wie es der Klappentext anpreist
February 10, 2018
Strahlungen II ist deutlich interessanter, als Strahlungen I. Der aus dem Kaukasus zurückgekehrte Ernst Jünger blicjt nunmehr reifer und realistischer auf die Gegenwart. Die interessanten Themn für mich waren die persönlichen Kontakte zu Widerstandskreisen (20 Juli) und die Auseinandersetzung mit den Romanen von Aldous Huxley. Dennoch langweilen die Tagebücher mit langen Traumschilderungen, Selbstbeweihräucherungen und es zeigt sich weiterhin, dass Jünger ein eher angespanntes Verhältnis zur Realität hat und sich seine philosophischen und literarischen Äußerungen (für die er in rechten Kreisen als großer Intellektueller verehrt wird) sich in aller Regel auf Gemeinplätze beschränken. Dafür, dass er in einer interessanten Phase der Weltgeschichte an einem interessanten Ort sitzt und die geistige Elite Frankreichs und einflußreiche Generäle des 2. Weltkriegs täglich trifft und spricht, macht er wirklich wenig aus diesen Tagebüchern.
April 11, 2024
Un Jünger más maduro explicando en detalle sus experiencias en la guerra, así como la pérdida de su hijo.
La forma de redacción puede resultar criptica para un lector estándar, en tanto Jünger emplea múltiples referencias a literatura, ciencias, etc. Asimismo, el uso de nombres clave puede ser algo confuso en un comienzo.
Sin perjuicio de lo tedioso que puede resultar digerir el libro, por su extensión y temática, creo que representa la esencia más clara de Jünger. Sus reflexiones resultan claras y el avance de las páginas permiten que uno se identifique en primera persona con el autor, sin perder su identidad.
La forma de redacción puede resultar criptica para un lector estándar, en tanto Jünger emplea múltiples referencias a literatura, ciencias, etc. Asimismo, el uso de nombres clave puede ser algo confuso en un comienzo.
Sin perjuicio de lo tedioso que puede resultar digerir el libro, por su extensión y temática, creo que representa la esencia más clara de Jünger. Sus reflexiones resultan claras y el avance de las páginas permiten que uno se identifique en primera persona con el autor, sin perder su identidad.
September 4, 2017
Die Tagebücher der letzten Kriegs- und ersten Nachkriegsjahre. Erstaunlich, über was der Mann schreibt und worüber nicht. Und wenn er dann z.B. doch über Hitler schreibt, dann wie über einen Käfer oder ein Wesen aus einem anderen Sonnensystem. Sehr abgehoben in jedem Sinn des Wortes. Sehr beruhigend.
March 26, 2025
Increíble. Libro obligatorio para cualquier persona que quiera ver y entender los cambios espirituales debidos a la segunda guerra mundial. Jünger es un absoluto experto en entender esas tribulaciones del espíritu.
Ya el primer tomo me pareció excelente pero este segundo supera con creces el primero. Libro imprescindible y sin duda de mis favoritos de la vida.
Ya el primer tomo me pareció excelente pero este segundo supera con creces el primero. Libro imprescindible y sin duda de mis favoritos de la vida.
September 2, 2024
Entradas de diario llenas de sueños, naturaleza y meditaciones. Una lectura imprescindible —junto a Radiaciones I— para conocer a uno de los hombres más preclaros del siglo pasado.
Read
November 20, 2024⁰111aaaz,w54r4
December 28, 2024
Uno de los mejores volúmenes de diarios que he leído nunca; la escritura está muy pulida y cada página es agradable de leer.
June 21, 2025
„Von allen Domen bleibt nur noch jener, der durch die Kuppel der gefalteten Hände gebildet wird. In ihm allein ist Sicherheit.“
"Einäugige Humanität ist widriger als Barbarei"
"Einäugige Humanität ist widriger als Barbarei"
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews