Friedrich Polnauer
Born on 4 July 1905Died on 22 November 1974Engineer, MusicianFriedrich Polnauer was gifted both musically and technically. After losing his job as an engineer in Berlin in 1930 as a result of the Depression and subsequently setting up as a freelance inventor, he began private violin studies at the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory.
Hans Marsilius Purrmann
Born 10. April 1880Died 17. April 1966Painter, Graphic designer, [EN] Kunstschriftsteller, SammlerBy the time he went into exile in 1933, Hans Marsilius Purrmann was already a well-travelled, experienced painter. In 1905, he met Max Liebermann, Max Slevogt, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse in Berlin.
Carl Rabus
Born on 30 May 1898Died on 28 July 1983Graphic designer, PainterCarl Rabus first made a name for himself with graphic art in the 1920s: lino- and woodcuts and illustrations influenced by expressionism. Later came watercolours and oil paintings of landscapes, cities and people.
Max Reinhardt
Born on 9 September 1873Died on 31 October 1943Actor, Theater directorThe actor and director Max Reinhardt founded the theatre Salzburger Festspiele in 1920, ran several theatres in Berlin and was artistic director of Vienna’s Theater in der Josefstadt from 1924 to 1933. A great many actors performed there after 1933 who, like Max Reinhardt himself, no longer wanted to or were allowed to perform in Germany.
Walter Reisch
Born on 23 May 1903Died on 28 March 1983Screenwriter, Film directorVienna-born Walter Reisch established his first contacts in the film industry while still a student. At 17 he was Director's Assistant to Alexander Korda and wrote his first comedy; later he made screenwriting his profession.
Emy Roeder
Born on 30 January 1890Died on 7 February 1971BildhauerinThe sculptor Emy Roeder learned her craft in her hometown of Würzburg, as well as in Munich and Darmstadt. In the 1920s she successfully established herself in Berlin as an expressionist artist.
Khalil Rostamkhani
Born on 11 September 1953WriterAlready as a 16-year-old, the Iranian writer Khalil Rostamkhani took part in the 1969 protests against the Shah's regime. Three years later he went to study in England.
Joseph Roth
Born on 2 September 1894Died on 27 May 1939Writer, JournalistJoseph Roth was a storyteller and the story he narrated most often was his own biography. Reality was what he wrote about.
Nelly Sachs
Born on 10 December 1891Died on 12 May 1970Poet, WriterA native of Berlin, Nelly Sachs already secretly wrote poems and stories as a child. 1921 saw the publication of her first book Legenden und Erzählungen (Legends and Tales) with eight pieces of prose, which she sent to Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf, whom she very much admired.
Hans Sahl
Born on 20 May 1902Died on 27 April 1993Writer, JournalistAlready as a child Hans Sahl wanted to be a writer. He wrote expressionist poetry and short stories, some of which were also published.
