German writer and playwright, best known for his plays "Schinderhannes"
(1927), "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick" (The captain of Köpenick, 1930)
and "Des Teufels General" (The Devil's General, 1945).
After the Nazis had come to power in Germany, he moved to Austria and
finally emigrated to the United States in 1939. He became naturalized
U.S. citizen in 1946 and Swiss citizen in 1966.
When he arrived in the United States, he first worked as script writer
in Hollywood before buying a farm in Vermont.
Received numerous awards such as the Georg Büchner Prize (1929), the
Goethe Prize (1955), Germany's Cross of Merit with star (1955) and the
Order Pour le Mérite (1966).
Studied humanities, biology and botany at the University of
Frankfurt.