A German Classic 2026: Erich Maria Remarque's Im Westen nichts Neues
An Essay Prize for Sixth-Formers
1st Prize: £500 2nd Prize: £300 3rd Prize: £100 (joint prizes possible)
Deadline: Wednesday 9 September 2026, 12 noon.
Deadline for study pack: Wednesday 1st July, 12:00pm.
We are delighted to announce the launch of the newest round of 'A German Classic' – our essay competition for sixth-form students.
This year we would like to invite you to read with us Erich Maria Remarque’s Im Westen nichts Neues (1928), regarded by some as one of the greatest (anti-) war novels of all time.
We have put together a free study pack, including a set of multimedia materials, that will help you delve into this fascinating text. We will guide you through topics ranging from the novel’s first person narrator Paul Bäumer, to depictions of nature and a disconnect between a younger and an older generation.
All details about eligibility, study packs, essay questions, submission, judging criteria, deadlines and more, can be found here.
If you have any questions, please email the Prize Coordinator Marlene Schilling at germanclassic@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.