{{Short description|German writer (1932–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Eberhard Panitz | image = Portraitfoto von Eberhard Panitz Privatbestand.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1932|04|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Dresden, Germany | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|01|1932|04|16|df=y}} | death_place = Berlin, Germany | education = {{plainlist| * University of Leipzig }} | occupation = {{plainlist| * Writer * Screenwriter * Literary editor * Publicist }} | organizations = | awards = {{plainlist| * Heinrich Mann Prize * Nationalpreis der DDR * Vaterländischer Verdienstorden }} }} '''Eberhard Panitz''' (16 April 1932 – 1 October 2021) was a German writer, screenwriter, literary editor and publicist. He wrote epic works, documentaries, audio plays and scripts for films and television. He was committed to socialist realism, and received several awards in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). After German reunification, he continued to write for leftist publishers.

== Life == thumb|Panitz in front of a monastery on a study tour in Mongolia in 1966 Panitz was born in Dresden,<ref name="t-online">{{cite news | title = Schriftsteller Eberhard Panitz ist tot | work = t-online | date = 4 October 2021 | url = https://www.t-online.de/unterhaltung/stars/id_90909884/eberhard-panitz-89-ostdeutscher-schriftsteller-ist-tot.html | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 4 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211004042048/https://www.t-online.de/unterhaltung/stars/id_90909884/eberhard-panitz-89-ostdeutscher-schriftsteller-ist-tot.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="dpa">{{cite news | title = Schriftsteller Eberhard Panitz gestorben | newspaper = Der Tagesspiegel | date = 3 October 2021 | url = https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/in-der-ddr-wurden-seine-romane-verfilmt-schriftsteller-eberhard-panitz-gestorben/27672250.html | agency = dpa | language = de | access-date = 4 October 2021 | archive-date = 3 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211003150237/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/in-der-ddr-wurden-seine-romane-verfilmt-schriftsteller-eberhard-panitz-gestorben/27672250.html | url-status = live }}</ref> the son of a tram conductor and a saleswoman.<ref name="t-online"/> He grew up in Dresden-Trachau. He attended the {{ill|Pestalozzi-Gymnasium Dresden|de|lt=Pestalozzi-Oberschule}}, completing with the Abitur in 1950.<ref>{{cite web | title = Eberhard Panitz | website = StayFriends | url = http://www.stayfriends.de/Personen/Dresden/Eberhard-Panitz-P-59PMK-P | access-date = 9 June 2015 | language = de | archive-date = 26 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160426012348/http://www.stayfriends.de/Personen/Dresden/Eberhard-Panitz-P-59PMK-P | url-status = live }}</ref> After working in a youth brigade building the Cranzahl Dam,<ref name="Voigt">{{cite news | last = Voigt | first = Heidrun | title = Sommerhaus zum Schreiben | newspaper = Märkische Allgemeine | date = 12 October 2016 | url = https://www.maz-online.de/Lokales/Teltow-Flaeming/Sommerhaus-zum-Schreiben | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 6 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006130213/https://www.maz-online.de/Lokales/Teltow-Flaeming/Sommerhaus-zum-Schreiben | url-status = live }}</ref> he studied pedagogy and German studies at the University of Leipzig until 1953. He worked as a literary editor for both the {{ill|Verlag Neues Leben|de}} and the {{ill|Mitteldeutscher Verlag|de}} in Halle.<ref name="MDR" /> He joined the Deutscher Schriftstellerverband in 1958, remaining a member until it was dissolved in 1990. He belonged to its executive board, and was vice president of its Berlin section.<ref name="Voigt" />

Working as a freelance writer from 1959,<ref name="dpa" /> Panitz wrote epic works, documentaries, audio plays and scripts for films and television, committed to socialist realism. His topics included building a socialist society, espionage, the bombing of Dresden and the emancipation of women.<ref name="MDR" /> Novels such as ''Meines Vaters Straßenbahn'' (My father's tram) have autographic elements, set in Dresden.<ref name="Gutschke">{{cite news | last = Gutschke | first = Irmtraud | title = Starke Frauen / Eine Erinnerung an Eberhard Panitz | newspaper = Neues Deutschland | date = 4 October 2021 | url = https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1157296.literatur-starke-frauen.html | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211005010353/https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1157296.literatur-starke-frauen.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He created strong determined women characters.<ref name="Gutschke" /> His novel ''Die unheilige Sophia'' (The unholy Sophia) is based on Sonja, a controversial mayor of Kolberg after World War II. The book was filmed, directed by Manfred Wekwerth, at original locations.<ref name="Voigt" /> Panitz was editor for two volumes of notable German stories (''Erzählungen'').<ref name="MDR">{{cite web | title = Schriftsteller Eberhard Panitz gestorben | work = MDR | date = 4 October 2021 | url = https://www.mdr.de/kultur/literatur/dresden-eberhard-panitz-gestorben-100.html | language = de | access-date = 4 October 2021 | archive-date = 3 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211003161658/https://www.mdr.de/kultur/literatur/dresden-eberhard-panitz-gestorben-100.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Panitz travelled frequently in socialist countries such as Vietnam, Cuba and Mongolia,<ref name="t-online" /> resulting in books such as ''Gesichter Vietnams'' (Faces of Vietnam, 1978) and ''Cuba mi Amor'' (2004).<ref name="Gutschke" /> He also travelled in the U.S. for several months.<ref name="t-online" /> Panitz was a member of the Marxist forum of the Die Linke party.<ref name="Voigt" />

After German reunification, his writings were released through small publishing houses dedicated to leftist topics.<ref name="MDR" /> His 1982 novel ''Eiszeit'', a warning of atomic weapons, was reprinted in 2016.<ref name="Gutschke" /> He lived in Berlin-Grünau as a freelance writer. For decades, he also had a summer retreat which he preferred for working, first in Kolberg, and from 1974 a house in {{ill|Prieros|de}}, Brandenburg, which had belonged to Christa Wolf before.<ref name="Voigt" />

Panitz died in Berlin at age 89.<ref name="dpa" /><ref name="Schumann 2021">{{cite web | last = Schumann | first = Frank | title = Unter den Bäumen | website = junge Welt | date = 4 October 2021 | url = https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/411680.literatur-unter-den-bäumen.html | language = de | access-date = 4 October 2021 | archive-date = 3 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211003190412/https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/411680.literatur-unter-den-b%C3%A4umen.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

== Awards == thumb|upright|Panitz in 1962

* 1956 Jugendbuchpreis of the GDR<ref name="Voigt" /> * 1967 Erich Weinert Medal<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * 1971 Heinrich Greif Prize<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * 1973 Literature Prize of the Democratic Women's League of Germany<ref name="Kürschner 2019 p. 1432">{{cite book | last=Kürschner | first=J. | title=Kürschners Deutscher Literatur-Kalender auf das Jahr .... 58. Jahrgang 1981 | publisher=De Gruyter | year=2019 | isbn=978-3-11-083896-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6WeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1432 | language=de | access-date=7 October 2021 | page=1432 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007124116/https://books.google.de/books?id=h6WeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1432 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * 1975 Heinrich Mann Prize<ref name="dpa" /><ref>{{cite web | title = Literaturpreise / Register mit einer Einführung: Literaturpreise als literaturgeschichtlicher Forschungsgegenstand | work = University of Heidelberg | date = June 2005 | url = http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/5811/1/LiteraturpreiseInternet.pdf | language = de | pages = 156–157 | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 6 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006133110/http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/5811/1/LiteraturpreiseInternet.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> * 1976 Heinrich Greif Prize<ref>{{cite book | title = Kürschners Deutscher Literatur-Kalender auf das Jahr / 57. Jahrgang 1977 | publisher = De Gruyter | date = 2019 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4MDtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1297 | language = de | pages = 1297–1298 | isbn = 9783110859638 | access-date = 6 October 2021 | archive-date = 6 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006134804/https://books.google.com/books?id=4MDtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1297 | url-status = live }}</ref> * 1977 Nationalpreis der DDR<ref name="Voigt" /> * 1982 {{ill|Goethe Prize (East Berlin)|de|Goethe-Preis der Stadt Berlin|lt=Goethe Prize}} of East Berlin<ref>{{cite web | title = Panitz, Eberhard | website = berlingeschichte.de | date = 2021 | url = https://berlingeschichte.de/ehrung/ | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 6 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006133543/https://berlingeschichte.de/ehrung/ | url-status = live }}</ref> * 1984 {{ill|Art Prize of the FDGB|de|Kunstpreis des FDGB|lt=Art Prize}} of the Free German Trade Union Federation<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64">{{cite book | last1=Killy | first1=W. | last2=Kühlmann | first2=W. | last3=Aurnhammer | first3=A. | last4=Egyptien | first4=J. | last5=Kellermann | first5=K. | last6=Martus | first6=S. | last7=Sdzuj | first7=R.B. | title=Os – Roq | publisher=De Gruyter | series=Killy Literaturlexikon : Autoren und Werke des deutschsprachigen Kulturraumes | year=2010 | isbn=978-3-11-022045-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqvOv5LhlkYC&pg=PA64 | access-date=7 October 2021 | pages=64–66 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007124832/https://books.google.de/books?id=FqvOv5LhlkYC&pg=PA64 | url-status=live }}</ref> * 1985 Vaterländischer Verdienstorden of the GDR<ref name="Voigt" />

== Work == === Books === {{div col}} * ''Käte.'' Berlin 1955.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''In drei Teufels Namen.'' Berlin 1958.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Flucht.'' Berlin 1956.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> <!--* ''Verbrechen am Fluß.'' Berlin 1957.--> * ''Die Feuer sinken''. Berlin 1960, Schkeuditz 2000 {{ISBN|3-9806705-3-8}}<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /><ref name="gnnverlag.de 2016">{{cite web | title = Die Feuer sinken – GNN Verlag | website = gnnverlag.de | date = 23 February 2016 | url = http://gnnverlag.de/produkt-uebersicht/schkeuditzer-buchverlag/die-feuer-sinken | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160223183423/http://gnnverlag.de/produkt-uebersicht/schkeuditzer-buchverlag/die-feuer-sinken | archive-date = 23 February 2016 | url-status = dead | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021}}</ref> * ''Das Mädchen Simra.'' Halle 1961.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Das Gesicht einer Mutter.'' Halle 1962.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Cristobal und die Insel'' Berlin 1963.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> <!--* ''Die Verhaftung.'' Berlin 1960. * ''Die kleine Reise.'' Halle (Saale) 1965.--> * ''Der siebente Sommer.'' Halle 1967<ref name="Voigt" /> * ''Unter den Bäumen regnet es zweimal''. Halle 1969<ref name="Voigt" /> * ''Die sieben Affären der Doña Juanita''. Halle 1972<ref name="dpa" /> * ''Der Weg zum Rio Grande.'' Berlin 1973.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Die unheilige Sophia.'' Halle 1974, 2007 {{ISBN|978-3-939828-08-2}}.<ref name="Verlag Wiljo Heinen 2021">{{cite web | title = Eberhard Panitz : "Die unheilige Sophia" | website = Verlag Wiljo Heinen | date = 3 October 2021 | url = https://www.gutes-lesen.de/laden/unheilige_sophia/ | language = de | access-date = 5 October 2021 | archive-date = 4 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211004223503/https://www.gutes-lesen.de/laden/unheilige_sophia/ | url-status = live }}</ref> * ''Absage an Viktoria.'' Halle (Saale) 1975.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> <!--* ''Unerlaubte Entfernung.'' Berlin 1976. * ''Die Moral der Nixe.'' Halle (Saale) 1978.--> * ''Gesichter Vietnams.'' Berlin 1978 (Photos: Thomas Billhardt)<ref name="Gutschke" /> * ''Meines Vaters Straßenbahn''. Halle 1979, Dresden 1996<ref>Wolfgang Höppner: ''Panitz' produktiver Denkanstoß.'' review, in: ''Sonntag.'' 1979, No.&nbsp;31, p.&nbsp;7.</ref> * ''Die verlorene Tochter.'' Halle (Saale) 1979.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Mein lieber Onkel Hans''. Halle 1982<ref name="Voigt" /> * ''Eiszeit''. Halle (Saale) 1983<ref name="Gutschke" /> <!--* ''Phosphorblume.'' Berlin 1985. * ''Viktoria.'' Halle (Saale) 1985.--> * ''Leben für Leben''. Halle 1987<ref name="Voigt" /> * ''Das Lächeln des Herrn O.'' Berlin 1994.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> <!--* ''Frau mit dunkler Brille''. Halle (Saale) 1989. * mit Klaus Huhn: ''Mein Chef ist ein Wessi.'' Berlin 1992. * ''Rübezahl.'' Berlin 1992. * ''Tatort Köpenick.'' Berlin 1993. * mit Klaus Huhn: ''Ossiland ist abgebrannt.'' Berlin 1994. * ''Verhör im Café.'' Schkeuditz 1996.--> * ''Comandante Che'', Berlin 1997.<ref name="Gutschke" /> <!--* ''Jorge Amados Einmischung.'' Berlin 1998. * ''Villa Sonnenschein und der siebzehnte Juni.'' Berlin 1998. * ''Die grüne Aue des Alten Fritz.'' Schkeuditz 1999. * mit Klaus Huhn: ''Himmlischer Briefwechsel über ein versunkenes Land.'' Berlin 1999. * ''Spielplatz in D.'' Berlin 2001. * ''Frauengeschichten aus der DDR.'' Schkeuditz 2002.--> * ''Cuba, mi amor.'' Berlin 2004.<ref name="Gutschke" /> * ''Der geheime Rotbannerorden.'' Böklund 2006, {{ISBN|3-939828-04-1}}.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> * ''Dresdner Novelle 1989.'' verlag am park in der edition ost, Berlin 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-89793-232-6}}.<ref name="Killy Kühlmann Aurnhammer Egyptien 2010 p. 64" /> <!--* ''Käthe Kollwitz und das verschwundene Bild.'' Berlin 2005. * ''Die unheilige Sophia.'' überarbeitete und erweiterte Neu-Edition, Böklund 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-939828-08-2}}. * ''Comandante Che.'' überarbeitete, um Fotos ergänzte Neu-Edition, Böklund 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-939828-12-9}}. * ''Deutschland hin und zurück.'' Neu-Edition von ''Die kleine Reise.'' um Nachtrag zur historischen Einordnung ergänzt, Böklund 2008, ISBN 978-3-939828-20-4.--> * ''Geheimtreff Banbury – Wie die Atombombe zu den Russen kam.'' 2nd edition. ''Das Neue Berlin'', Berlin 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-360-01977-6}}.<ref>Michael Salewski: [http://www.buecher.de/shop/buecher/treffpunkt-banbury-oder-wie-die-atombombe-zu-den-russen-kam/panitz-eberhard/products_products/content/prod_id/11265913/ ''Sonjas Kältetest.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004233635/https://www.buecher.de/shop/buecher/treffpunkt-banbury-oder-wie-die-atombombe-zu-den-russen-kam/panitz-eberhard/products_products/content/prod_id/11265913/ |date=4 October 2021 }} (review). In: ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung''. 30 May 2003.</ref> * ''Tagebuch der totgesagten Dichter.'' verlag am park in der edition ost, Berlin 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-89793-300-2}}<ref name="dpa" /> * ''Das Trümmerhaus der Träume.'' verlag am park in der edition ost, Berlin 2015, {{ISBN|978-3-945187-20-3}}<ref name="dpa" /> * ''Frau im Dämmerlicht.'' verlag am park in der edition ost, Berlin 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-945187-57-9}}.<ref name="Gutschke" /> * ''Eiszeit. Eine unwirkliche Geschichte'', revised 2016, Verlag Wiljo Heinen, Berlin/Böklund 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-95514-028-1}}.<ref>{{cite web | title = Eiszeit | publisher = Verlag Wiljo Heinen | url = https://www.gutes-lesen.de/laden/eiszeit/ | access-date = 9 May 2019 | language = de | archive-date = 10 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190510000619/https://www.gutes-lesen.de/laden/eiszeit/ | url-status = live }}</ref> <!--* ''Comandante CHE. Biografische Skizze''. Mit einem Vorwort von Tobias Salin. Verlag Wiljo Heinen, Berlin/Böklund 2018, {{ISBN|978-3-95514-035-9}}.--> {{div col end}}

=== Filmography === Panitz worked for films, sometimes writing the literary base, sometimes also the script.<ref name="Filmportal">[https://www.filmportal.de/person/eberhard-panitz_12022d1430d540d792985e5c54d6c2f8 Eberhard Panitz ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005210047/https://www.filmportal.de/person/eberhard-panitz_12022d1430d540d792985e5c54d6c2f8 |date=5 October 2021 }} (in German) Filmportal 2021, retrieved 5 October 2021</ref> Films included: * 1967: ''{{ill|Der Revolver des Corporals|de}}'', literary base<ref name="Filmportal" /> <!--* 1970: Absage an Albert Lachmuth--> * 1970: ''Netzwerk'', scenario with director Ralf Kirsten<ref name="Filmportal" /> * 1972: ''Der Dritte'' (''Her Third''), literary basis, director: Egon Günther<ref name="dpa" /> * 1972/73: ''{{ill|Die sieben Affären der Doña Juanita|de}}'' (television film in four episodes based on his novel)<ref name="Filmportal" /> * 1974/75: ''Die unheilige Sophia'', literary base, script with Manfred Wekwerth, director: Wekwerth * 1976: ''Absage an Viktoria'', literary base, script, director: {{ill|Celino Bleiweiß|de}}<ref name="Filmportal" /> * 1980: ''Meines Vaters Straßenbahn'', literary base, script, director: Celino Bleiweiß<ref name="Filmportal" /> <!--* 1981: Die Heimkehr der Madonna (literarische Vorlage)--> * 1983 to 1985: ''Mein lieber Onkel Hans'', literary base, director: {{ill|Dagmar Wittmers|de}}<ref name="Filmportal" /> <!-- === Audio plays === * 1963: ''Senor Santes'' * 1965: ''Der Sprung vom Heiligen Fisch'' * 1965: ''Der Stein der Weisen'' * 1977: ''Ich bin nicht Christus. Monolog über William L. Calley''

=== Editor === * mit Karl-Heinz Berger: ''Deutsche Meistererzählungen des 19. Jahrhunderts.'' Berlin. ** 1. ''Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Heinrich von Kleist, Joseph von Eichendorff, Jeremias Gotthelf, Franz Grillparzer, Gottfried Keller.'' 1954. ** 2. ''Otto Ludwig, Eduard Mörike, Theodor Storm.'' 1954.-->

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{ill|Hartmut Mechtel|de}}: ''Eberhard Panitz''. In: Erik Simon, {{ill|Olaf R. Spittel|de}} (eds.): ''Die Science-fiction der DDR. Autoren und Werke. Ein Lexikon.'' Verlag Das Neue Berlin, Berlin 1988, {{ISBN|3-360-00185-0}}, pp.&nbsp;212ff

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{DNB portal|119461900}} * {{IMDb name|nm0659530}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panitz, Eberhard}} Category:1932 births Category:2021 deaths Category:East German writers Category:Writers from Dresden Category:Socialist realism writers Category:German male novelists Category:German non-fiction writers Category:German radio writers Category:20th-century German screenwriters Category:German male screenwriters Category:German editors Category:Literary editors Category:Writers from Berlin Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit Category:20th-century German male writers