Königsberg
1910–1932
August Karl Wilhelm Kapp (*1910 in Königsberg – †1976 Dubrovnik) was born in the cultural and economic capital of East Prussia during the epoch of Imperial Germany. His formative years saw post-WW I revolutions, territorial separation of East Prussia from the Empire, and the political and economic turmoil of the nascent Weimar Republic. His name changed to “Karl William” upon naturalization in the United States during WWII. His father, August Otto Wilhelm, held a PhD in physics and taught at the Hufen-Gymnasium, which became Kapp’s secondary school. Also Kapp’s grandfather had been a teacher and his great grandfather a cotton manufacturer in the Königsberg area. His mother, Gertrud, (maiden name: Schrader) was a housewife from Celle. She returned to her birthplace in West-Germany at the end of WWII together with Kapp’s brother, Werner, who held a PhD and practiced law in Hannover. While Werner had two children, Kapp had no children but was survived by his wife Lore (*1906-†1979).
In secondary school Kapp came under the influence of Ernst Wiechert, who was his English and German language teacher.
The notable German novelist was a friend of the Kapp family and colleague of Kapp’s father. The latter is remembered as an exemplary humanist-socialist, while Kapp is described as the leader of a socialist youth organization in Wiechert’s autobiography “Jahre und Zeiten” (1949). This friendship shaped the ethical foundations of Kapp’s economics as professed in his contribution to the volume “Bekenntniss zu Ernst Wiechert” (Profession to Ernst Wiechert) (Kapp 1947). His essay chapter deems Wiechert’s call for “love all suffering creatures” as consistent with a planned economy not a free-market economy. Economy is thus deemed a means to human emancipation and participation, rather than an end in itself. In other words, Kapp understood his economics to be in the tradition of the European humanities. (cf. chapter 7 in Berger 2017)
After graduating from secondary school in March 1929, Kapp enrolled in the faculty of law at the universities of Königsberg, Berlin (one semester in 1930), and Geneva (one semester 1931). He completed the juridical state examination at Königsberg University in 1933. This is where he met his future wife and co-author, Lore in autumn 1932.
References ︎︎︎
After graduating from secondary school in March 1929, Kapp enrolled in the faculty of law at the universities of Königsberg, Berlin (one semester in 1930), and Geneva (one semester 1931). He completed the juridical state examination at Königsberg University in 1933. This is where he met his future wife and co-author, Lore in autumn 1932.
References ︎︎︎
City Harbor,
Königsberg, Kapp’s birthplace and hometown
Sketch of Kapp’s secondary school “Hufengymansium” 
Kapp’s alma mater: Albertus-Universität Königsberg “Albertina” 
Kapp’s birth certificate, birthdate 27.10.1910, born in his parents’ apartment in Seeckstrasse 15
as young boy and at time of high school graduation
student ID, faculty of law, University of Berlin, spring semester 1930, address: Knausstr. 5b
as adolescent
father, August Wilhelm Otto 
Kapp’s father as young man
with his grandfather
mother, Gertrud
mother and grandmother
mother and brother, Werner
with childhood friends
at highschool graduation, outdoor activities as secondary school student and as university student
with friends on the beach