Günther Grass (16.10.27-13.4.2015) Nobel prize receiver, artist and former Waffen-SS member. Above:Günther Grass (on the right) at the age of 16 during his time with the RAD (Reichsarbeitdienst) or German Labor Service,1944.
For years he was part of various groups such as the (SPD Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands), Social Democratic Party of Germany as well as the peace movement. He was a very vocal proponent against the reunification of Germany asserting that a unified Germany would too easily go back to being a paramilitary belligerent on the world stage. He also criticized Germany’s military as being hypocritical when a submarine was delivered to Israel, worrying that Israel might nuke Iran “which might wipe out the Iranian people."
In 2006 it was revealed in an interview that he was a member of the Waffen-SS. This caused great concern as most people thought of him as part of the "Flakhelfren Generation”, those born too late to see any fighting or participate in the wars waning years. The conservative journalist, historian and biographer of Adolf Hitler,Joachim Feist, spoke out on Grass’ disclosure: “After 60 years, this confession comes a bit too late. I can’t understand how someone who for decades set himself up as a moral authority, a rather smug one, could pull this off.
After an unsuccessful attempt to volunteer for the U-boat fleet in 1942, at age 15, Grass was conscripted into theReichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labor Service). He was called up for the Waffen-SS in 1944. Grass was trained as a tank gunner and fought with the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg until its surrender to U.S. forces at Marienbad.