His father was Alfred Döblin, a medical doctor but best known as author; the novel Berlin Alexanderplatz (1929) stands out among his many books. Wolfgang was born in Berlin, but he spent his first three years behind the German front in World War I, in Saargemünd where his father volunteered as an army doctor.
Kanyang ama ay Alfred Döblin, isang medikal na doktor ngunit pinakamahusay na kilala bilang may-akda ng kathambuhay Berlin Alexanderplatz (1929) ay wala sa hanay ng kanyang maraming mga libro. Wolfgang ay ipinanganak sa Berlin, ngunit siya na ginugol sa kanyang unang tatlong taon sa likod ng German harap sa World War I, sa Saargemünd na kung saan ang kanyang ama volunteered bilang isang hukbo doktor.