Hermann Kasack
Hermann Kasack was a notable German writer and literary figure born on July 24, 1896, in Potsdam, Germany. He was the only child of a physician and pursued studies in German literary history and political economy at the Universities of Berlin and Munich from 1915 to 1920. Kasack began his literary career early, publishing his first poem in 1915 and forming significant relationships with influential intellectuals, including expressionist poet Oskar Loerke. After working briefly in publishing and radio, he faced professional setbacks following the rise of the Nazi Party in 1933, which barred him from public engagements. Despite these challenges, Kasack was able to return to the literary scene in 1941 as chief lector at the Samuel Fischer publishing house. He played a pivotal role in founding the German PEN Center in 1948 and served as president of the German Academy for Language and Literature for a decade until health issues led to his resignation. Kasack passed away on January 10, 1966, in Stuttgart, leaving a lasting impact through his contributions to German literature and publishing, as well as his mentorship to many prominent writers of the era.
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Hermann Kasack
Writer
- Born: July 24, 1896
- Birthplace: Potsdam, Germany
- Died: January 10, 1966
- Place of death: Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Biography
Hermann Kasack was born in Potsdam, Germany, on July 24, 1896, the only child of a physician. From 1915 to 1920, Kasack studied German literary history and political economy at the Universities of Berlin and Munich. In 1915, he published his first literary work, a poem, in The Magazine. At this time, he also established what would be long-standing relationships with some of Germany’s premier intellectuals, including Oskar Loerke, a German expressionist poet whose style greatly influenced Kasack’s poetry, and painter Walter Grammatte. During emergency civil service duty in Brussels, Belgium, from 1916 to 1917, Kasack also met writers Carl Einstein and Gottfried Benn.
In 1920, Kasack embarked on a publishing career when he accepted a job as a lector in Potsdam for the Gustav Kiepenheuer publishing company. In that same year, he married Maria Fellenberg, and the couple later had two children. In 1925, he resigned from his publishing job to write for the radio broadcast, “Citizens of Berlin Radio Hour.” In 1926, he became a director for the Samuel Fischer publishing company.
After the Nazi Party took control of the German government in 1933, the government prohibited Kasack from engaging in any public or intellectual activities, including lecturing and broadcasting his radio dramas for the “Citizens of Berlin Radio Hour.” The government’s action forced him out of employment for an extended period of time. It was not until 1941 that Kasack was able to maintain gainful employment when he became chief lector at the Samuel Fischer publishing house.
In 1948, Kasack was one of the founders of the German PEN Center. Five years later, he was appointed president of the German Academy for Language and Literature in Darmstadt. However, after ten years he was forced to resign the presidential post because he was suffering from a serious eye disease. He died in Stuttgart, Germany, on January 10, 1966.
Although Kasack produced a substantial amount of literature, his most significant literary achievement was his work for major German publishing houses, which under his guidance were instrumental in publishing many of Germany’s leading twentieth century writers, including Loerke, Friedrich Hoelderlins, Hans Schiebelhuth, and Gertrud Kolmar.