Brecht Chronology

1898

10-Feb Bertolt Brecht born in Augsburg, Bavaria.

1914

Brecht's first poems published. World War I begins.

1917

Brecht enrolls as a medical student at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

1918

Brecht drafted into World War I as a medical orderly. Brecht writes first play, Baal. 11-Nov Armistice Day, WWI hostilities end.

1919

Brecht has son, Frank with girlfriend, Paula Banholzer. Adolf Hitler joins Deutsche Arbeiterpartei later known as Nationalsozialis- tische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist Party).

1922

Drums in the Night opens in Munich. Brecht wins Kleist Prize. 3-Nov Brecht marries opera singer, Marianne Zoff. 180 An Introduction to the Social and Political Philosophy of Bertolt Brecht

1923

Brecht has daughter, Hanne Hiob, with Zoff. Hiob later becomes a well- known German actor. In the Jungle of Cities premieres in Munich. Brecht begins collaborations with Lion Feuchtwanger. Brecht writes film script, Mysteries of a Barbershop. It stars Karl Valentin and is directed by Erich Engel. Baal premieres in Leipzig. 8-9-Nov Hitler leads the unsuccessful ‘Beer Hall Putsch’ in Munich.

1924

Brecht moves to Berlin. Brecht directs an adaptation of Marlow's Edward the Second, written by him- self and Feuchtwanger. Brecht meets future wife, actress Helene Weigel. They have a son, Stefan. Brecht begins collaborations with Elisabeth Hauptmann.

1926

Man Equals Man premieres in Darmstadt. Brecht begins reading Marx.

1927

Brecht divorces Zoff. Brecht's Hauspostille (Manual of Piety), a volume of poetry is published. Brecht begins work with innovative director, Erwin Piscator.

1928

The Threepenny Opera opens in Berlin with music by Kurt Weill.

1929

10-Apr Brecht marries Weigel.