1877
Was born April 15, 1877 in Waldenheim, Saxony
1893/94
Studied at the“Kunstgewerbeschule“ (School of Arts and Crafts) in Dresden
1897
Studies at the private “Académie Julian” in Paris for half a year
1898
Move to Rome where he was trained in the technique of lithography under the technical guidance of the graphic artist Otto Grein
1899
First sculptures
1911
Was elected into the board of the “Berliner Secession”
1914
War service in East Prussia and Poland
1919
Admission to the “Preußische Akademie der Künste” as well as election to presidency of the “Freie Secession”, Berlin
1924
The academy shows a great selection of his works
1927
Kolbe’s spouse, Benjamine Kolbe, died whereupon the artist withdrew from social life
1928
Kolbe was elected President for the “Deutscher Künstlerbund”
1932
Won the competition for the Heinrich-Heine-monument in Dusseldorf
1937
Many works were defamed as “degenerate”
1942
Was awarded with the Goethe Medal for Art and Science
1943
Studio in Berlin was heavily damaged by a bomb hit
1947
Died November 20, 1947 in Berlin