Walter Benjamin

German cultural critic, philosopher and social critic (1892–1940)
Person human Q61078
Walter Benjamin
Photo d'identité sans auteur, 1928 · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Walter Benjamin

Summary

Walter Benjamin is a human[1]. His place of birth was Berlin[2]. He was born on July 15, 1892[3]. He died in Portbou[4]. He died on September 26, 1940[5]. He worked as a philosopher[6], writer[7], translator[8], essayist[9], and literary critic[10]. He ranks in the top 0.59% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (4,106 views/month, #5,899 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Walter Benjamin's place of birth was Berlin[2].
  • Walter Benjamin died in Portbou[4].
  • Walter Benjamin was born on July 15, 1892[3].
  • Walter Benjamin died on September 26, 1940[5].
  • Walter Benjamin is buried at Cementiri de Portbou[12].
  • Walter Benjamin's father was Emil Benjamin[13].
  • Among Walter Benjamin's spouses was Dora Sophie Kellner[14].
  • A child of Walter Benjamin was Stefan Benjamin[15].
  • Walter Benjamin held citizenship in Kingdom of Prussia[16].
  • Walter Benjamin held citizenship in German Reich[17].
  • German was Walter Benjamin's native language[18].
  • Walter Benjamin's professions included philosopher[6].
  • Walter Benjamin's professions included writer[7].
  • Walter Benjamin's professions included translator[8].
  • Walter Benjamin's professions included essayist[9].
  • Walter Benjamin worked as a literary critic[10].
  • Walter Benjamin worked as a sociologist[19].
  • Walter Benjamin's field of work was philosophy[20].
  • Walter Benjamin's education included a stint at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[21].
  • Walter Benjamin was educated at University of Bern[22].
  • Walter Benjamin was educated at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin[23].
  • Walter Benjamin's education included a stint at University of Freiburg[24].
  • Walter Benjamin's doctoral advisor was Richard Herbertz[25].
  • A notable work attributed to Walter Benjamin is Theses on the Philosophy of History[26].
  • A notable work attributed to Walter Benjamin is The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Walter Benjamin's place of birth was Berlin[2]. He was born on July 15, 1892[3]. His father was Emil Benjamin[13]. German was his native language[18].

Education

Educated at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[21], a public research university[28], in Germany[29], founded in 1472[30], headquartered in Hauptgebäude der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[31]; University of Bern[22], a comprehensive university[32], in Switzerland[33], founded in 1834[34], headquartered in Main building of the University of Berne[35]; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin[23], a comprehensive university[36], in Germany[37], founded in 1809[38], headquartered in Berlin[39]; and University of Freiburg[24], a public university[40], in Germany[41], founded in 1457[42], headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau[43]. Walter Benjamin's doctoral advisor was Richard Herbertz[25].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include philosopher[6], writer[7], translator[8], essayist[9], literary critic[10], and sociologist[19]. Walter Benjamin's field of work was philosophy[20].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Theses on the Philosophy of History[26], a written work[44], founded in 1940[45]; The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction[27], a literary work[46], founded in 1936[47]; The Origin of German Tragic Drama[48]; One Way Street[49]; and The arcades project[50].

Personal Life

Among Walter Benjamin's spouses was Dora Sophie Kellner[14]. A child of him was Stefan Benjamin[15].

Death and Burial

Walter Benjamin died on September 26, 1940[5]. He died in Portbou[4]. Burial took place at Cementiri de Portbou[12].

Why It Matters

Walter Benjamin ranks in the top 0.59% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (4,106 views/month, #5,899 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[51] He is known by 31 alternative names across languages and contexts.[52]

He has been cited as an influence by Slavoj Žižek[53], a philosopher[54], b. 1949[55], of Slovenia[56], awarded the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia[57], specialised in ideology[58]; Jean Baudrillard[59], a philosopher[60], 1929–2007[61], of France[62], specialised in philosophy[63]; Byung-Chul Han[64], a writer[65], b. 1959[66], of South Korea[67], awarded the Salzburg State Prize for Future Research[68]; Theodor W. Adorno[69], a philosopher[70], 1903–1969[71], of United States[72], awarded the Goethe Plaque of the City of Frankfurt[73], specialised in philosophy[74]; Fredric Jameson[75], an essayist[76], 1934–2024[77], of United States[78], awarded the Holberg International Memorial Prize[79], specialised in literary criticism[80]; and Hannah Arendt[81], a philosopher[82], 1906–1975[83], of Prussia[84], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[85], specialised in political philosophy[86].

Works attributed to him include The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction[87], The arcades project[88], Theses on the Philosophy of History[89], Capitalism as Religion[90], and Berlin Childhood around 1900[91].

FAQs

Where was Walter Benjamin born?

Born in Berlin[2], Walter Benjamin…

Where did Walter Benjamin die?

Walter Benjamin passed away in Portbou[4].

Who were Walter Benjamin's parents?

Walter Benjamin's father was Emil Benjamin[13].

Who was Walter Benjamin married to?

Walter Benjamin's spouses include Dora Sophie Kellner[14].

What did Walter Benjamin do for work?

Walter Benjamin worked as philosopher[6], writer[7], translator[8], essayist[9], and literary critic[10].

Where did Walter Benjamin go to school?

Walter Benjamin was educated at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[21], University of Bern[22], Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin[23], and University of Freiburg[24].

Who did Walter Benjamin influence?

Walter Benjamin has been cited as an influence by Slavoj Žižek[53], Jean Baudrillard[59], Byung-Chul Han[64], and Theodor W. Adorno[69].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [13] . wikidata.org.
  4. [14] . wikidata.org.
  5. [16] . wikidata.org.
  6. [17] . wikidata.org.
  7. [15] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [21] . wikidata.org.
  9. [22] . wikidata.org.
  10. [23] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [24] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [20] . wikidata.org.
  13. [18] . wikidata.org.
  14. [6] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  15. [7] . wikidata.org.
  16. [8] . wikidata.org.
  17. [9] . wikidata.org.
  18. [10] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [19] . wikidata.org.
  20. [12] . Q117314785. wikidata.org.
  21. [25] . wikidata.org.
  22. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  24. [26] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [27] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  26. [48] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [49] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [50] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [53] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [59] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [64] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [75] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [81] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [88] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [89] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [90] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [91] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  37. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  46. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  47. [85] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  48. [86] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [51] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [52] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 48m ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation philosopher, writer, translator +6
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32119|batch #32119]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (32)"
  2. 4d ago · RVA2869 · 2026-05-16 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source UbuWeb, Frankfurter Personenlexikon, Faces of Moscow +1
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/31868|batch #31868]]: Remove redundant described by source (P1343) - ID P8044 is present."
  3. 8d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-13 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30851|batch #30851]]: match CERL IDs on the basis of GND (7)"
  4. 14d ago · Gerwoman · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Sancho el sabio foundation id 79363
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    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30423|batch #30423]]"
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