Jorge Semprún

An exhibition by the Stiftung Ettersberg in the Study Centre of the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek

Jorge Semprún (1923–2011) was a Spanish writer and survivor of Buchenwald. He wrote about his experiences in the concentration camp to ensure that the National Socialist crimes were never forgotten. Based on his memoires, he formulated and advocated for his future vision of a democratic and unified Europe. In 1994 he received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and with his acceptance speech, he set in motion the founding of the Stiftung Ettersberg in Weimar.

In commemoration of Semprún’s 100^th anniversary, the exhibition by the Stiftung Ettersberg examines his life which was significantly influenced by the political extremes of the 20^th century. As a child, he and his family went into exile to escape the violence of the Spanish civil war (1936–1939). Several years later, now a young communist, Semprún joined the French resistance, was captured and deported to the concentration camp in Buchenwald in 1944. In 1953 he began working underground against the Franco dictatorship. After cutting ties with the Spanish communist party, he lived in Paris where he became an acclaimed author and screenwriter.

Financed with kind support from the Thuringian State Chancellery and the Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Hessen-Thüringen.

Exhibition opening:

The exhibition in the Study Centre opens on 7 December at 6 pm.