Johannes Bobrowski
Encyclopedia
Johannes Bobrowski was a German
lyric poet, narrative writer, adaptor and essayist.
in East Prussia
. In 1925, he moved first to Rastenburg, then in 1928 on to Königsberg
, where he attended the humanist Gymnasium
. One of his teachers was Ernst Wiechert
. In 1937, he started a degree in art history in Berlin
. As a member of the Confessing Church
, Bobrowski had contact with the German resistance
against National Socialism
. He was a lance corporal for the entire Second World War in Poland
, France
and the Soviet Union
. In 1943 he married Johanna Buddrus.
From 1945—1949 Bobrowski was imprisoned by the Soviet Union
, where he spent time working in a coal mine. On his release, he worked as an editor in Berlin, first for the Altberliner Verlag, a children’s publisher run by Lucie Grosner, and then from 1959 for the Union Verlag publishing house. His work was influenced by his knowledge of Eastern European landscapes and of the German, Baltic
and Slavic
cultures and languages, combined with ancient myths. In 1964, Bobrowski became a member of the PEN Club.
In East Berlin
in 1965, Brobowski died as a result of a perforated appendix. Since 1992, the Foundation for Prussian Maritime Trade (Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung) has donated funds towards the Johannes Brobowski Medal.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
lyric poet, narrative writer, adaptor and essayist.
Life
Bobrowski was born in TilsitSovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast
Sovetsk , known by its historical German name of Tilsit in East Prussia before 1946, is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the south bank of the Neman River. Population: -History of Tilsit:...
in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. In 1925, he moved first to Rastenburg, then in 1928 on to Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, where he attended the humanist Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. One of his teachers was Ernst Wiechert
Ernst Wiechert
Ernst Wiechert was a German teacher, poet and writer.-Biography:Wiechert was born in Kleinort near Sensburg , East Prussia.He was one of the most widely read novelists in Germany during the 1930s...
. In 1937, he started a degree in art history in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. As a member of the Confessing Church
Confessing Church
The Confessing Church was a Protestant schismatic church in Nazi Germany that arose in opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German Protestant church.-Demographics:...
, Bobrowski had contact with the German resistance
German Resistance
The German resistance was the opposition by individuals and groups in Germany to Adolf Hitler or the National Socialist regime between 1933 and 1945. Some of these engaged in active plans to remove Adolf Hitler from power and overthrow his regime...
against National Socialism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. He was a lance corporal for the entire Second World War in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In 1943 he married Johanna Buddrus.
From 1945—1949 Bobrowski was imprisoned by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, where he spent time working in a coal mine. On his release, he worked as an editor in Berlin, first for the Altberliner Verlag, a children’s publisher run by Lucie Grosner, and then from 1959 for the Union Verlag publishing house. His work was influenced by his knowledge of Eastern European landscapes and of the German, Baltic
Baltic languages
The Baltic languages are a group of related languages belonging to the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family and spoken mainly in areas extending east and southeast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe...
and Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
cultures and languages, combined with ancient myths. In 1964, Bobrowski became a member of the PEN Club.
In East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
in 1965, Brobowski died as a result of a perforated appendix. Since 1992, the Foundation for Prussian Maritime Trade (Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung) has donated funds towards the Johannes Brobowski Medal.
Literary works
- “Sarmatische Zeit” (The Land of Sarmatia), poems, 1961
- “Schattenland Ströme” (Shadowland), poems, 1962
- “Levins Mühle, 34 Sätze über meinen Großvater“ (Levin’s Mill,34 Stories About My Grandfather ) novel, 1964
- “ Boehlendorff und Mäusefest" Short stories, 1965
- “Litauische Claviere “ (Lithuanian Pianos), novel, 1966
- “Wetterzeichen” (Weathersigns), poems, 1967
- “Der Mahner” (The Admonisher), short stories, 1967 translated with “Boehlendorff und Mausefest" as “I Taste Bitterness” in 1970
- “Im Windgesträuch” (In the windy wilderness), poems from Bobrowski's literary executorLiterary executorA literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
, 1970
Films
- “Levins Mühle “ (Levin’s Mill), filmed in 1980 by Horst Seemann for DEFA film studios, with Erwin Geschonnek, Christian Grashof and Katja Paryla.
- “Grüsse aus Sarmatien für den Dichter Johannes Bobrowski “ (Greetings from Sarmatia for the Poet Johannes Bobrowski),1973 – Short film by Volker Koepp
Opera
- “Levins Mühle” (Levin’s Mill) by Udo Zimmermann, premiere in 1973, produced by Harry Kupfer
Prizes
- Alma Johanna Koenig Prize, 1962
- “Group of 47” prize, 1962
- Heinrich Mann Prize in 1965 for "Levins Mühle“ (Levin’s Mill)
- International Charles Veillon Prize, 1965
- F. C. Weiskopf Prize, 1967
About Bobrowski and his work
- Dietmar Albrecht, Andreas Degen et al. (eds): Unverschmerzt. Johannes Bobrowski - Leben und Werk. Munich 2004.
- Andreas Degen: Bildgedächtnis. Zur poetischen Funktion der Sinneswahrnehmung im Prosawerk Johannes Bobrowskis. Berlin 2004.
- Sabine Egger: Dialog mit dem Fremden. Erinnerung an den "europäischen Osten" in der Lyrik Johannes Bobrowskis. Würzburg 2009. ISBN 978-3-8260-3952-2
- Eberhard Haufe: Bobrowski-Chronik. Daten zu Leben und Werk. Würzburg 1994.
- Christoph Meckel: Erinnerung an Johannes Bobrowski. Munich, Vienna 1989.
- Bernd Leistner: Johannes Bobrowski - Studien und Interpretationen. Berlin 1981
- Gerhard Rostin (ed.): Ahornallee 26 oder Epitaph für Johannes Bobrowski. Stuttgart 1978. ISBN 3-421-01831-6
- Gerhard Rostin (ed.) Johannes Bobrowski - Selbstzeugnisse und neue Beiträge über sein Werk. Berlin 1975
- Gerhard Wolf: Beschreibung eines Zimmers - 15 Kapitel über Johannes Bobrowski. Berlin 1975, Stuttgart 1972
- Gerhard Wolf: Johannes Bobrowski - Leben und Werk. Berlin 1967
- A more extensive bibliography can be found on Die Johannes Bobrowski Gesellschaft e.V.