The Questionnaire (Salomon novel)

The Questionnaire is a novel by Swiss author Ernst Salomon, originally published in German as Der Fragebogen in 1951. The book is a semi-autobiographical account of Salomon's experiences undergoing the Allied denazification process after World War II.

The novel centers on the titular "questionnaire," a lengthy and complex form required of German citizens seeking to reintegrate into postwar society. The questionnaire sought to determine the individual's level of involvement with the Nazi regime and assess their suitability for various professions and social standing.

Salomon's narrative interweaves his answers to the questionnaire with flashbacks and reflections on his life, particularly during the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era. He portrays himself as a politically ambiguous figure, critical of both extremes of the political spectrum and primarily interested in survival. He details his involvement in various paramilitary groups and his work as a screenwriter for UFA, the German film studio, during the Nazi period.

The novel is notable for its ironic and cynical tone. Salomon avoids simple condemnation of the Nazi regime, instead presenting a nuanced and often morally ambiguous portrait of German society in the first half of the 20th century. He critiques the bureaucracy and the often arbitrary nature of the denazification process, suggesting that it failed to accurately assess individual responsibility and culpability. The Questionnaire is considered a significant work of postwar German literature, offering a complex and challenging perspective on a controversial period in history. It is a work of fiction based on a real-world process and experience.