VI. 1970-1976

1970  Böll speaks at the founding meeting of the German Writers' Association in Stuttgart on the "Einigkeit der Einzelgänger" (Unity of the loners). Böll is elected President of the PEN Club of the Federal Republic of Germany for the period 1970-1972.

1971 Publication of "Gruppenbild mit Dame" (Group Portrait with Lady). At the 38th meeting of the International PEN Club in Dublin, Böll is elected to be the next President.

1972  On January 10th, 1972, the 'Spiegel' publishes an article by Böll with a title he had not approved: "Will Ulrike Gnade oder freites Geleit? (Does Ulrike Meinhof want mercy or a safe conduct?)  He vehemently attacks the way in which the newspaper "Bild" had reported a bank robbery that took place at Kaiserslautern on December 23rd, 1971. "Bild" blamed the crime on the Baader-Meinhof Group with the headline "Baader-Meinhof mordet weiter" (Baader-Meinhof gang goes on murdering), when in the text the police are quoted as having no evidence as to whom was responsible. This article unleashes a harsh campaign in right-wing publications against Böll lasting for months. At the beginning of June, while in various police raids leading terrorists are arrested, the police also search Böll's country house in Langenbroich. Böll learns in October that he will receve the Nobel Prize for Literature. Böll is active in a Social Democratic Voters' initiative and supports Brandt's election campaign. In December, Böll is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

1973 Böll publishes of a collection of essays entitled "Neue politische und literarische Schriften" (New political and literary writings).

1974 "Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum, oder Wie Gewalt entstehen und wohin sie führen kann" (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum or: How violence can arise and where it can lead) appears.

1975 Böll publishes "Berichte zur Gesinnungslage der Nation" (Reports on the state of mind of the nation), a satire on the German security services. An interview entitled "Drei Tage im März" (Three Days in March), conducted by Christian Linder, appears. "Ansichten eines Clowns" (The Clown) is made into a film by Vojtech Jasny, in which Helmut Griem strars.  "Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum, (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum) is adapted by Volker Schlöndorff and Margarette von Trotta, with Angela Winkler in the title role. Böll is invloved in writing and approving dialogue.

1976  Böll does little literary work, concentrating on journalistic activity.  With Günter Grass and Carola Stern, he publishes the magazine "L'76," in which the authors seek to present their conception of a democratic and libertarian form of socialism. In January, Heinrich Böll and his wife formally leave the Catholic Church.