Erich Maria Remarque was a German novelist, born as Erich Paul Remark on 22 June 1898. He is best known for his landmark novel, All Quiet on the Western Front (Im Westen nichts Neues), published in 1928. This novel, based on his own experiences in the Imperial German Army during World War I, became an international bestseller and defined a new genre of literature focusing on veterans' experiences in war. The book's strong anti-war themes led to its condemnation by the Nazi regime, specifically by Joseph Goebbels, who labeled it as "unpatriotic."

Following the success of his novel, Remarque faced significant political pressure and was forced to relocate. He first moved to Switzerland as a refugee and later to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen. Throughout his career, Remarque continued to write novels that explored themes of war and human suffering.