Fallada, Hans

The German author Hans Fallada was born as Rudof Wilhelm Friedrich Ditzen in Greifswald, German Empire. He was the second youngest of four children. His father was a judge, and due to his work, the family moved to Berlin in 1899 and in 1909 to Leipzig. The young Rudolf was often ill and accident prone. He was deeply unhappy throughout his school years in Berlin, Leipzig and Rudolstadt. It was only when he became interested in a subject, such as languages or literature, that he was able to show his prowess. A possible new beginning in Leipzig was thwarted when he was involved in a serious accident on his bicycle only a few days before the beginning of term.