Born on 23rd February 1899 in Dresden
Died on 29th July 1974 in Munich
 |
|
|
| 1913 | |
Attendance at the Freiherrlich von Fletscher’sche teacher training seminar in Dresden |
| 1917 | Soldier in First World War; returns with a serious heart condition | |
| 1919 | Sits in on lectures at the König Georg Gymnasium; graduates from wartime school leaving exams; begins studies in Leipzig – and later Rostock and Berlin – taking German, History, Philosophy and History of the Theatre | |
| 1925 | Gains doctorate with the subject of ‘Retorts to Friedrich’s great work De la littérature allemande' | |
| 1933 | National Socialists ban and burn many of Kästner’s works; first imprisonment by the Gestapo | |
| 1937 - 1940 | Kästner is repeatedly imprisoned and released during this time | |
| 1942 | Writes screenplay for the UFA Jubilee film Münchhausen under a pseudonym; complete ban on his work by the National Socialists, yet he still does not emigrate | |
| 1945 | Founding of the literary cabaret Die Schaubude in Munich; features editor of the Neue Zeitung newspaper in Munich | |
| 1946 | Publishes the journal Pinguin for young people | |
| 1951 | Founding of the cabaret Die kleine Freiheit ('The Little Freedom') in Munich; gold film award for best screenplay for Das doppelte Lottchen ('Lisa and Lottie') | |
| 1951 - 1962 | President of West German PEN | |
| 1956 - 1957 | Munich Literature Prize and Georg Büchner Prize | |
| 1959 | Recognition with the Federal Cross of Merit | |
| 1960 - 1970 | Hans Christian Anderson Prize; Award of the Lessing Ring (in partnership with the Literature Prize of the German Freemasons); Honorary Cultural Prize of the town of Munich |
