Rare, 1917, Menschen im Krieg, Andreas Latzko, Rascher & Co Zürich, Anti-war Pacifism, First Edition

Very rare 1917 first edition of Menschen im Krieg, Andreas Latzko’s groundbreaking anti-war book—published anonymously during World War I by Rascher & Co. in Switzerland.

Written by Latzko while the war was still raging, this work predates Erich Maria Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” by 12 years, and is considered one of the earliest and most powerful examples of pacifist war literature.

Title: Menschen im Krieg (Men in War)
Author: Andreas Latzko
Publisher: Rascher & Co., Zürich
Year: 1917
Edition: First Edition (Published Anonymously)
Binding: Original softcover 
Pages: 200
Size: 19.5 cm × 12.5 cm
Condition: Good for age (see photos)

About the Book

Menschen im Krieg (“Men in War”) consists of six deeply affecting novellas portraying life on the Isonzo Front. Latzko wrote them in 1917 in Davos, Switzerland, while recovering from severe trauma after eight months of service with the Austro-Hungarian Army.

The book was an immediate success and quickly translated into several languages—yet it was banned in all warring nations for its unflinching depiction of the brutality, psychological devastation, and moral collapse caused by war. The Austro-Hungarian High Command demoted Latzko for writing it, but the book solidified his reputation far beyond Austria’s borders.

This anonymous first edition represents a defining moment in early 20th-century anti-war literature and political thought.

About the Author

Andreas Latzko (1876–1943) was an Austrian pacifist writer and journalist. After extensive travels through Egypt, India, Ceylon, and Java, he returned to Europe at the outbreak of WWI and served as a reserve officer on the Isonzo Front. He contracted malaria and later suffered severe shell shock after an artillery attack near Gorizia.

Discharged as unfit for service, he spent a year recovering in Switzerland, where he wrote Menschen im Krieg. His bold condemnation of war made him both controversial and internationally celebrated.

Condition

Good vintage condition for a fragile WWI-era softcover edition. Some age-related wear present. Please see all photos for details.