bˈɔːɹn ɪn kɹˈɛfɛld, hiː ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn kˈɛmpən, wˌɛɹ hiː ˈɔːlsoʊ vˈɪzɪɾᵻd ðə dʒɪmnˈeɪsiəm tˈɑːmiːəm, wˌɛɹ hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd wɪð ˈæbɪɾɚ.
Born in Krefeld, he grew up in Kempen, where he also visited the gymnasium Thomaeum, where he graduated with abitur.