PEN Germany
A German writers' association and PEN International centre dedicated to literary exchange and the defense of freedom of expression.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
PEN Germany, formally known in English as PEN Centre Germany, is a German association of writers and an autonomous national centre within PEN International, the worldwide writers' organization established in London in 1921. Its work combines literary and cultural exchange with advocacy for freedom of intellectual expression, especially on behalf of writers, journalists, and other authors who face imprisonment, persecution, censorship, or exile. The German branch was established in 1924 under the direction of Ludwig Fulda, with support from PEN's founding president, John Galsworthy. It organized an international PEN conference in Berlin in 1926 and became part of the expanding international network of autonomous PEN centres. Its early development was disrupted by the Nazi seizure of power. The centre's president, Alfred Kerr, went into exile, and the German organization was subsequently transformed into the Union of National Writers. That body accommodated and supported the Nazi regime and was criticized by PEN International for failing to condemn the regime's book burnings and attacks on intellectual freedom. In response, a PEN centre for German writers in exile was established in London in 1934, with Heinrich Mann as president. After the Second World War, PEN Centre Germany was re-established in Göttingen in 1948. The creation of separate East and West German states in 1949 led to two German PEN organizations. Their institutional separation continued through the Cold War and ended after German reunification, when a united PEN Centre Germany was established in 1998. The organization is now based in Darmstadt, Hesse, and operates as one of more than 140 autonomous centres associated with PEN International. PEN Germany's principal activities include defending writers at risk, supporting threatened authors, and promoting international solidarity among writers. Its Writers in Prison work addresses the detention and persecution of writers and advocates for their release and protection. Its Writers in Exile programme, founded in 1999, provides international writers with an opportunity to live and work safely in Germany. The programme has offered accommodation in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich, together with living support, enabling participants to continue their writing and professional activity away from danger. The centre also presents the Hermann Kesten Prize, awarded since 1985 for outstanding services to persecuted authors. In addition, PEN Germany participates in the annual work of the Writers for Peace Committee, an initiative founded in 1984 that uses literary and international cooperation to address conflict, peace, and human rights. Through these programmes, PEN Germany functions not as a commercial publishing label but as a membership-based cultural and human-rights organization linking German literary life with global freedom-of-expression advocacy.
History
PEN Germany emerged from the international PEN movement, which was founded in London in 1921 as an association connecting poets, essayists, and novelists. The German branch was founded in 1924 under Ludwig Fulda, with the support of John Galsworthy, PEN's founding president. Berlin hosted the centre's first international PEN conference in 1926, reflecting the importance of German literary life within the interwar international network. The organization was severely compromised by the Nazi rise to power. Alfred Kerr, its president at the time, fled into exile after the Nazis took control. In January 1935, under difficult political conditions, the German body became the Union of National Writers. This successor organization was aligned with the Nazi regime and did not issue the condemnation of the 1933 book burnings that PEN International expected from a writers' organization committed to intellectual freedom. The episode remains a defining example of the dangers of institutional conformity and political capture for cultural organizations. German writers who had gone into exile developed a separate institutional response. In 1934, a PEN centre for German writers in exile was established in London, with Heinrich Mann serving as president. This exile centre preserved an international voice for German-language writers who had been forced to leave the country and stood in opposition to the Nazi-controlled literary establishment. Following the Second World War, PEN Centre Germany was re-founded in Göttingen in 1948. The foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic in 1949 produced two German PEN organizations, mirroring the country's political division. The separate centres continued during the Cold War, when questions of censorship, artistic freedom, political allegiance, and relations between East and West shaped literary institutions. After German reunification, the two traditions were eventually brought together. A united PEN Centre Germany was established in 1998, creating a single national centre within PEN International. The organization later developed a stronger programme-based role in defending writers and assisting authors displaced by persecution. Its Writers in Exile programme was founded in 1999 and provided selected international writers with safe living and working conditions in German cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich, as well as living support. PEN Germany's contemporary identity is built around the principles of literary solidarity and the protection of intellectual expression. Its Writers in Prison activities focus on authors who are detained or persecuted, while its participation in the Writers for Peace Committee connects German members to international work on conflict prevention and peace. Since 1985, the Hermann Kesten Prize has recognized people or organizations that have made notable contributions to the protection of persecuted authors. Based in Darmstadt, the centre remains part of PEN International's network of more than 140 autonomous national and regional centres.
- 1999
Writers in Exile programme founded
[1]PEN Germany launched a programme providing threatened international writers with safe accommodation and living support in several German cities.
- 1998
United PEN Centre Germany established
[1]Following German reunification, the previously divided German PEN organizations were united.
- 1985
Hermann Kesten Prize introduced
[1]PEN Germany began awarding the Hermann Kesten Prize for outstanding services to persecuted authors.
- 1984
Writers for Peace Committee founded
[1]The Writers for Peace Committee was founded, and PEN Germany became a participant in its annual work.
- 1949
German PEN divides with the country
[1]The creation of East and West Germany resulted in separate PEN organizations.
- 1948
Postwar re-foundation in Göttingen
[1]PEN Centre Germany was re-established in Göttingen after the Second World War.
- 1935
German organization becomes Union of National Writers
[1]Under Nazi political pressure, the German body was transformed into the Union of National Writers and failed to condemn the regime's book burnings.
- 1934
Exile centre established in London
[1]A PEN centre for German writers in exile was created in London, with Heinrich Mann as president.
- 1933
Nazi persecution disrupts German PEN
[1]The Nazi takeover, Alfred Kerr's exile, and the regime's attacks on writers and books undermined the German centre.
- 1926
First international PEN conference in Berlin
[1]PEN Centre Germany organized its first international conference in Berlin.
Products and positioning
A literary and human-rights association representing writers in Germany while providing international support for freedom of expression and authors at risk.
Author protection programme · 1999
Writers in Exile
Founded in 1999, Writers in Exile supports international writers who need protection from persecution or serious threats. The programme provides opportunities to live and work in safety, with accommodation in German cities including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich and associated living support. It is a flagship expression of PEN Germany's commitment to maintaining literary work and public expression under conditions of displacement.
Freedom-of-expression programme
Writers in Prison
Writers in Prison is PEN Germany's advocacy activity for authors who have been imprisoned, persecuted, or otherwise targeted because of their writing or public expression. It reflects PEN International's broader commitment to defending intellectual freedom and mobilizing literary networks on behalf of writers at risk.
Literary and human-rights prize · 1985
Hermann Kesten Prize
The Hermann Kesten Prize has been awarded by PEN Germany since 1985 to recognize outstanding services to persecuted authors. It links literary recognition with the organization's human-rights mission and highlights individuals or institutions that defend writers facing repression.
Controversies
1935
Nazi-era transformation of the German PEN organization
After the Nazi takeover and Alfred Kerr's flight into exile, the German organization became the Union of National Writers. It supported the Nazi cultural order and was criticized by PEN International for failing to condemn the 1933 book burnings and the suppression of intellectual freedom.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Writers in Exile
Germany · International
A protection and residency programme for international writers who require a safe place to live and continue working. Support has included accommodation in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich together with living expenses.
Outcome. Established a continuing institutional route for threatened writers to relocate temporarily to Germany and maintain their literary work.
- 1984Writers for Peace Committee participation
International
PEN Germany participates in the annual activities of PEN International's Writers for Peace Committee, which connects writers and centres around questions of conflict and peace.
Outcome. Maintains PEN Germany's involvement in an international literary peace network.
Brand decisions
1999
Launch Writers in ExileStrategyBackground
PEN Germany's freedom-of-expression mission includes protecting writers forced to leave their countries because of persecution or threats.
Action taken
The centre created a programme offering threatened international writers safe accommodation in several German cities and living support.
Aftermath
Writers in Exile became a core component of PEN Germany's author-protection work.
1998
Reunify the German PEN organizationsStrategyBackground
The division of German PEN into separate East and West organizations had continued after the country's partition in 1949.
Action taken
A united PEN Centre Germany was established after German reunification.
Aftermath
The organization resumed a single national identity within the international PEN network.
Sources2 sources
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