Joachim Fest Receives 2006 Henri Nannen Prize For His Lifetime Achievements in Journalism

The author and journalist Joachim Fest will receive the Henri Nannen Prize for his comprehensive lifetime achievement in publishing and for his contribution to quality journalism on Jay 12, 2006. Gruner + Jahr and "Stern" magazine present the award. "Stern" Editor-in-Chief Thomas Osterkorn: "The Hitler biographer and former 'FAZ' editor Joachim Fest is receiving the Henri Nannen Prize for his lifetime achievement in publishing because he has given essential impulses for dealing with the German past. He believes that only those who understand history can shape the present. And, for Joachim Fest, the insight 'that humans always have a disposition for the evil, the corruptive, and the absolutely barbaric' is part of understanding." At the occasion of the award presentation, "Stern" publishes an interview with Joachim Fest this week, entitled: "There is no happiness without achievement."

Joachim Fest was born on December 8, 1926 , in Berlin-Karlshorst. He studied law, history and art history. Fest wanted to become a publisher and joined the Rias, became Editor-in-Chief of NDR and Editor of "FAZ." After almost five years of work, he published his biography of Adolf Hitler in 1973. It was translated into 23 languages and achieved editions in the millions. As Head of the Culture Department of "FAZ," Fest was one of the initiators of the so-called "dispute of the historics" in 1986, a debate about the "singularity" of the crimes of the NS. Fest's biography about Hitler's chief architect Albert Speer stirred up controversies in 1999, his book "Der Untergang" (The Downfall) served as a reliable source for the movie by the same name by filmmaker Oliver Hirschbiegel.

"Stern" and Gruner + Jahr are presenting the Henri Nannen Prize for the second time. The award is named after the founder of "Stern" magazine, Henri Nannen, who died in 1996. Journalists with contributions from 191 German-language newspapers and magazines applied for the award in five categories. The award is endowed with €5,000 in each category. The award will be presented on May 12 at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg.