Composer Klemperer

September 1914

Volunteers for the First World War

In September 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, Kirchner volunteered for military service.

1914–1915

War as a “bloody carnival”

Kirchner saw the war as a “bloody carnival” and tried to cope with attacks of panic with alcohol and morphine.

1915

Driver training in Halle and discharge

In July 1915 Kirchner was sent to Halle an der Saale to train as a driver in the reserve unit of the 75th Mansfeld Field Artillery Regiment; after a mental breakdown his riding instructor, Professor Hans Fehr, arranged for Kirchner’s discharge from service.

1915

Dr. Kohnstamm’s sanatorium in Königstein

In December 1915 Kirchner was admitted to Dr. Oskar Kohnstamm’s sanatorium in Königstein (Taunus), where he was diagnosed with alcoholism and addiction to Veronal. To his friend and patron Dr. Karl Hagemann he wrote that he wanted more peace and absolute seclusion and longed more and more for his work and his studio.

summer 1917

The Reusch Hut on the Stafelalp

Resenting Dr. Spengler’s constant watch and doing all he could to deceive him, Kirchner moved to the Reusch Hut on the Stafelalp in the summer of 1917; Erna Schilling stayed in Berlin, looking after the apartment and studio and keeping up commercial and personal contacts in Germany.

1918

Moves to the “In den Lärchen” farm in Davos

In 1918 Kirchner received a residence permit and moved to the “In den Lärchen” farm above Längmatte in Davos — first renting a room in the upper hut, and in 1919 the rooms above — and furnished it with furniture he carved himself; he wrote to Henry van de Velde of a beautiful old Grisons house with a kitchen like Rembrandt’s studio.