In 1884, Loerke was born in
Jungen near
Schwetz (then in
West Prussia) as the son of a factory owner. From 1903, he studied history, German, philosophy and music in Berlin, but left his studies in 1906. The same year, he met his future partner, Clara Westphal. Between 1908 and 1912, he travelled extensively in Germany and France and documented his experiences in detailed travel diaries. In 1909, he first met , editor at
S. Fischer Verlag. His literary debut came with the short story
Vineta (1907). In 1911, his first volume of poetry was published. At age 29, he won the
Kleist Prize in 1913 (jointly with ). The prize money enabled him to travel to Italy and
Algiers. From 1910 to 1917, Loerke was a member of the
Donnerstags-Gesellschaft ("Thursday Society") in Berlin, a circle for artists and intellects to discuss literature, music and painting. In 1917, Loerke joined S. Fischer Verlag as an editor and got to know the authors of the publishing house, including
Thomas Mann. After World War I, he became an enthusiastic supporter of
Max Herrmann-Neiße and
Walter Rheiner. Between 1920 and 1928, Loerke contributed numerous articles and reviews to the newspaper
Berliner Börsen-Courier. Between 1929 and 1932, he also contributed to the literary journal
Die Kolonne, which was open to nature poetry. In 1933, Loerke, who opposed Nazism, was expelled from the
Prussian Academy of Arts. However, later that year, he had signed the
Gelöbnis treuester Gefolgschaft ("pledge of the most loyal followers"), a declaration of allegiance to Hitler, reportedly to protect his Jewish publisher
Samuel von Fischer. He was then reinstated in the
purged German Academy of Poetry, a sub-department the Prussian Academy of Arts. Loerke retreated to his house in
Frohnau, Berlin, and remained as chief editor of S. Fischer Verlag, which he tried to defend against ever new repressions and censorship measures. His volumes of poetry,
Der Silberdistelwald (1934),
Der Wald der Welt (1936) and
Der Steinpfad (1938), established his reputation as a poet of
inner emigration and representative of the
naturmagischen Schule (Natural Magic School). His grave was recognized as one of Berlin's
Ehrengraeber ("honor grave") until 2021, and after public outcry, its maintenance was extended by the
Senate of Berlin for another twenty years.
Hermann Kasack, a lifelong friend of Loerke, published many of his works posthumously. == Works ==