Why does this seemingly ordinary plaque command our attention? This is the Erik Reger Plaque. It marks a place where a remarkable writer and journalist once lived. Erik Reger’s story is intertwined with Essen’s history.
Erik Reger, born Hermann Dannenberger, came from a mining family. His father worked as a foreman for Friedrich Krupp AG. Erik Reger later worked for Krupp too. From 1920 to 1927, he was a press officer there in Essen-Werden.
During his time at Krupp, Erik Reger began writing. He published articles using various pseudonyms. Eventually, he became known as Erik Reger. In 1927, he left Krupp to become a full-time writer.
Erik Reger lived at Rellinghauser Straße 201 from 1931 to 1933. This plaque commemorates his time here. During those years, he wrote extensively about politics and society. He became a specialist on the Ruhr region.
Erik Reger’s experiences in Essen shaped his writing. His novel Union der festen Hand exposed the power structures of Ruhr industrialists. It criticized their alliance with the National Socialists. Published in 1931, it was one of the first German industrial novels. Erik Reger received the Kleist Prize for it.
The rise of the National Socialists led to increased attacks on Erik Reger. In 1935, his books were banned by the Nazi regime. Erik Reger and his family moved to Switzerland in 1934. He returned to Germany in 1936 and worked for a publishing house in Berlin.
After World War II, Erik Reger became a key figure in Berlin’s journalism scene. In 1945, he became co-publisher and editor-in-chief of Der Tagesspiegel. This newspaper was the first independent paper in Berlin. Erik Reger’s work promoted freedom and democracy.
Erik Reger died in Vienna in 1954. He is buried in Berlin. This Erik Reger Plaque serves as a reminder of his life and work. It connects us to a time of great change and upheaval in Germany. Erik Reger’s story encourages us to reflect on the importance of freedom.