HeymTour

Free guide to the places where the writer Stefan Heym (1913-2001) lived and worked.

Stefan Heym is one of the most well-known German authors of the 20th century and a significant contemporary witness of his generation. Born in 1913, he experienced the rise of National Socialism as an adolescent. Forced to flee Germany at an early age, he returned to America after two years in Prague. After completing his studies, he worked in New York for the anti-fascist weekly newspaper "Deutsches Volksecho." In 1942, he published his first novel, "Hostages." As a member of the American army, Stefan Heym participated in the liberation of Europe from fascism. His 1948 novel "The Crusaders" ("Crusaders of Today"/"The Bitter Laurel") made him internationally known. Under pressure from the persecution of suspected communists in the United States, Heym returned to Europe with his wife in the early 1950s. As an unruly figure, he repeatedly found himself in conflict in the GDR, and several of his books were banned from publication there. During the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, he became a sought-after commentator on the events, and he viewed the rapid reunification of Germany critically. In 1994, Heym opened the 13th German Bundestag as the oldest member of the Bundestag. He died at the end of 2001 during a stay in Israel.

The app uses words, images, and audio to guide visitors to places connected with Stefan Heym's biography and work. It provides insights into his life and times, his environment, and significant milestones in his development as a writer, publicist, and critical thinker. It begins in Chemnitz—the city where Stefan Heym was born, grew up, and published his first works. Further milestones in his life will follow gradually.

About the International Stefan Heym Society

The International Stefan Heym Society aims to preserve and cultivate the memory of Stefan Heym and his literary work. It organizes events such as readings, lectures, exhibitions and academic colloquia and supports the academic study of Stefan Heym and his work.