1899

Born on February 23,1899 to Ida and Emil Kästner

 

1913 – 1917

Attended Freiherrn von Fletscher Teachers’ Seminary

 

1917 – 1918

Conscripted into and served in the military

 

1918

Attended final course at the Teachers’ Seminary

 

1919

Attended the King George’s Secondary School (König-Georg-Gymnasium) as guest pupil

First publication of the poem "Die Jugend schreit!" in the student newspaper, “Die Schulgemeinde des König Georg-Gymnasiums zu Dresden”

Completed secondary school exit examinations

Began studies of German language and literature, history, philosophy and history of the theatre First important publication in “Leipzig Student Compositions” (“Dichtungen Leipziger Studenten”)

 

1920

First important publication in “Leipzig Student Compositions” (“Dichtungen Leipziger Studenten”)

 

1921

Exchange semesters in Rostock and Berlin

 

1925

Received his doctorate with the dissertation on “Frederick the Great and German Literature”

 

1927

Relocation to Berlin

Worked as drama critic and freelance writer for „Weltbühne", "Montag Morgen" and "Vossische Zeitung", among others

 

1928

First independent publication - "Herz auf Taille" – poems

 

1929

"Lärm im Spiegel"-poems

"Emil und die Detektive"- novel for children, illustrated by Walter Trier

 

1930

"Ein Mann gibt Auskunft" – poems

 

1931

 

"Fabian. Die Geschichte eines Moralisten" – novel

"Pünktchen und Anton" – novel for children

"Dann schon lieber Lebertran" – short film

Elected as member of the PEN-Club

 

1932

"Der 35. Mai" – novel for children

"Gesang zwischen den Stühlen" - poems

Theater version of “Pünktchen and Anton” written by Max Reinhardt

“Arthur mit dem langen Arm” and “Das verhexte Telefon” – stories for children with illustrations from Walter Trier

 

1933

"Das fliegende Klassenzimmer" – novel for children

Kästner’s books burned by the Nazis

Received publication ban in Germany

Arrested by the Gestapo for the first time

 

1934

"Drei Männer im Schnee" - novel

 

1935

"Emil und die drei Zwillinge" – novel for children

 

1936

"Dr. Erich Kästners Lyrische Hausapotheke" – poems

"Die verschwundene Miniatur" – novel

 

1937

Second arrest by the Gestapo

 

1938

"Georg und die Zwischenfälle" (later: "Der kleine Grenzverkehr") - novel

 

1939

Relationship with Luiselotte Enderle

Kästner does not get drafted (medical reasons)

 

1943

Final writing and publication ban in Germany and abroad

First screening of "Münchhausen" in Berlin

 

1945

Film expedition to Mayrhofen, Tirol and Schillersee

Permanent relocation to Munich

Formation of the cabaret "Die Schaubude"

Became editor-in-chief of the feature pages of the "Neue Zeitung"

Became editor of the children’s magazine “Pinguin. Für junge Leute”

 

1946

"Bei Durchsicht meiner Bücher" – collection of poems

Returned to Dresden to visit his parents

 

1948

Independant writer

"Der tägliche Kram" - Chansons 1945 through `48

“Kurz und bündig" – epigrams

 

1949

"Die Konferenz der Tiere" – children’s book 

"Das doppelte Lottchen" – novel for children

 

1950

"Der gestiefelte Kater" - renarration

Synchronfassung von "Alles über Eva / All about Eve"

 

1951

President of the West German PEN Center

Kästner’s mother, Ida, dies in Dresden

 

1952

"Die kleine Freiheit" - Chansons and Prose 1949 through `52

 

1954

Wrote screenplay for “Das fliegende Klassenzimmer”, directed by Kurt Hoffmann

"Die Schildbürger" - renarration

 

1955

"Die dreizehn Monate" -poems 

Wrote screenplay for "Drei Männer im Schnee"

 

1956

"Don Quichotte" - renarration

"Die Schule der Diktatoren" – satire

Received the Literature Prize from the city of Munich

Wrote screenplay for "Salzburger Geschichten" ("Der kleine Grenzverkehr")

 

1957

Premier of “Schule der Didaktoren” film, directed by Hans Schweikart in the Kammerspielen (theatre) Munich

Received the Georg Büchner Prize

"Als ich ein kleiner Junge war" – autobiographical novel

Birth of son Thomas on December 15th

Kästner’s father, Emil, dies on December 31st

 

1958

Premier of film “Haus der Erinnerung”, directed by Hans Schweikart, at the Kammerspielen (theatre) in Munich

 

1959

Awarded the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz)

 

1960

Awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in Luxemburg by the Board of Trustees of Literature for Youth (Kuratorium für das Jugendbuch)

 

1961

"Notabene 45" – diary from 1945

"Gullivers Reisen" - renarration for children

 

1962

"Das Schwein beim Friseur" – novel for children

 

1963

"Let's face it", poems, Jonathan Cape Ltd., London

 

1967

Last publication: "Der kleine Mann und die kleine Miss" – novel for children

 

1969

"Gesammelte Schriften für Erwachsene", collected works

 

1970

"Kästner anekdotisch", published by Luiselotte Enderle

 

1974

Died on July 29, 1974 in Munich