Kestenberg, Louis L.2022-12-132022-12-13196914061348https://hdl.handle.net/10657/12889Traditionally, German writers have remained aloof from social and political involvement. The policy of Gleichschaltung (1933-1945) shattered that tradition. Writers of Group 47 (1947- ) became involved in the political and social life of postwar Germany. Heinrich Boll used his fiction to criticize accepted norms; Gunter Grass took an active part in German politics. By 1965, Group 47 writers sensed that their social and political engagement was innocuous. Some agreed with Peter Weiss that new levels of political commitment were needed. After twenty years of public involvement, however, they no longer questioned the tradition of commitment.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital