List of Books by William Hermanns. See all books authored by William Hermanns
About William Hermanns
William Hermanns (1895-1990) was one of the best personally informed authorities of the events in Germany from World War I through the Hitler era who recorded and expressed his experiences primarily as a poet, but also as a writer of books plays and a couple of songs, which we will feature on this site.
Dr. Hermanns was an academician, as well, having earned his doctorate in Sociology, and was prepared for a diplomatic career with the League of Nations, but that international attempt at peace had an early ending with Mussolini's march into Abysinia (Ethopia). He would later in the United States become a Professor in German Language and Literature at San Jose State College (now University).
His gift to the world was as a Poet Sociologist shining light on conscience, that he learned to respect on his journey from the imaginary hero self as a volunteer soldier marching at the side of his Kaiser victoriously through the Arc de Triomphe to his discovery of conscience and its guiding power in the trenches of war.
His vow, screamed from the battlefield of Verdun upon being half-buried by an exploding shell, "God, save me and I will serve You as long as I live!" remained present to him everyday of the rest of his life.
William Hermanns died 26 years ago on April 6, 1990 - on July 23, 2015 he would have been 120 years old (which was his goal because of some biblical king who achieved it). May the Principles he cherished be recognized in you.