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 has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[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 has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[11] He is known by 31 alternative names across languages and contexts.[51]

He has been cited as an influence by Beatriz Sarlo[52], a writer[53], 1942–2024[54], of Argentina[55], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[56], specialised in essay[57]; Jean Baudrillard[58], a philosopher[59], 1929–2007[60], of France[61], specialised in philosophy[62]; Asja Lācis[63], a director[64], 1891–1979[65], of Latvia[66], awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour[67], specialised in acting[68]; Byung-Chul Han[69], a writer[70], b. 1959[71], of South Korea[72], awarded the Salzburg State Prize for Future Research[73]; Norbert Bolz[74], a philosopher[75], b. 1953[76], of Germany[77], awarded the Tractatus Award[78], specialised in philosophy[79]; and Fredric Jameson[80], an essayist[81], 1934–2024[82], of United States[83], awarded the Holberg International Memorial Prize[84], specialised in literary criticism[85].

Works attributed to him include Berlin Childhood around 1900[86], Theses on the Philosophy of History[87], Capitalism as Religion[88], The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction[89], and The arcades project[90].

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 Beatriz Sarlo[52], Jean Baudrillard[58], Asja Lācis[63], and Byung-Chul Han[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. [52] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [58] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [74] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [80] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [86] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [88] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [89] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [90] . 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. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [81] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  46. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  47. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  48. [85] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

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

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  2. [51] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Walter Benjamin. Retrieved April 18, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-benjamin
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Edit History

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. 6d ago · Daieuxetdailleurs · 2026-06-28 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Francearchives agent id 328586341
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  2. 9d ago · Printstream · 2026-06-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14536 366016
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  3. 23d ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-06-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Svkkl authority id p0008214-Benjamin-Walter-18921940
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  4. 5w ago · Gerwoman · 2026-05-31 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Copyright status as a creator Q71887839
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P7763]]: [[Q71887839]], #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1780194145718"
  5. 6w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation philosopher, writer, translator +6
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  6. 7w ago · RVA2869 · 2026-05-16 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source UbuWeb, Frankfurter Personenlexikon, Faces of Moscow +1
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  7. 7w 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)"
  8. 8w 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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