Every two years since 1991, the City of Osnabrück has been awarding the peace prize, named after the internationally renowned writer Erich Maria Remarque, who was born in Osnabrück.
Erich Maria Remarque, author of the celebrated novel „All Quiet on the Western Front“ was born in Osnabrück in 1898. Some of his experiences during World War I had a great influence on the writing of his novel:
„My topic is 20th century man and the issue of humanity“. Nations, systems or religions mattered little to Remarque in comparison with the freedom and dignity of the individual.
Since 1991, the city of Osnabrück has awarded the „Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize“ every two years. This prize, presented in memory of the author, recognises literary, journalistic or scientifi c works dealing with the topics of
„inner and outer peace“ (e.g. war and peace, disarmament, détente, human rights and personal liberty rights, exile, expulsion and asylum). The Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize carries an endowment of 15 000 euros, more than any other prize awarded by the city of Osnabrück.
The Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize, as provided for by its namegiver, is awarded for literature and journalistic or scientific work dealing with subjects of peace in a specific country or on an international level and for exemplary commitment to peace, humanity and freedom of man against oppression.
The Chairman of the jury is Prof. Dr. Claus Rollinger, the President of the University of Osnabrück and its members are Prof. Heinz Ludwig Arnold, Prof. Dr. Hans Mommsen, Lea Rosh, Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, Dr. Hubert Winkels and Prof. Dr. Tilman Westphalen as representative of the Erich Maria Remarque Association, Lord Mayor Boris Pistorius as the representative of the City of Osnabrück, Jutta Sauer, Manager of the Literaturbüro Westniedersachsen and Dr. Sven Jürgensen, the press spokesman of the City.
This year, the prize will be presented for the ninth time. The Erich Maria Remarque award which is remunerated with 15,000 Euros will be presented to Tony Judt, who was born in London in 1948, a historian and the director of the Remarque Institute for European Studies at the New York University. Grigori Pasko, a journalist, born in Ukraine in 1962, will be awarded the special prize which is remunerated with 5,000 Euros.