Rudolf Pannwitz
Rudolf Pannwitz (27 May 1881 in Crossen/Oder, Province of Brandenburg, Prussia – 23 March 1969 in Astano, Ticino, Switzerland) was a German writer, poet and philosopher. His thought combined nature philosophy, Nietzsche, an opposition to nihilism and pan-European internationalism: Life. Pannwitz was educated at the University of Marburg before moving to Berlin to continue studying. Through Gertrud Kantorowicz, a cousin of Ernst Kantorowicz and friend of Georg Simmel, he was introduced to Sabine Lepsius and the poetry of Stefan George. Pannwitz's poem 'Das Totengedicht' [The Poem of the Dead] was published in George's literary magazine , "Blätter für die Kunst". George and Nietzsche were lasting influences upon Pannwitz. In 1904 Pannwitz cofounded the periodical "Charon" with Otto zur Linde, co-editing it until 1906. His 1917 book "The Crisis of European Culture" impressed Hugo von Hofmannsthal, though Hofmannsthal later distanced himself from Pannwitz. From 1921 to 1948 Pannwitz lived on the small island of Koločep. In 1968 he received the Gryphius Prize.