Born in Leipzig in 1886. In 1914 lieutenant of the Genie reservists of the 3rd marine battalion; captured in November of that year and released in 1919. From 1922 employed by the Department of Civil Public Works, Water Department in Semarang. Heinrich Robert Steinbrück _ Was apprenticed as a mason in 1902 (required to study architecture), three years, completed April 1905. Military service, "Einjährigfreiwilliger," left as 2nd Lieutenant Army Reserve in the Genius of the Saxon Army. Data on architectural studies not yet found (archives in Leipzig incomplete). Left for China in 1910 and worked as an architect in the office of architect Rothkegel in Beijing from 1911 to September 1912. Was involved in the development and construction of the new parliament building there, including interior decoration and furniture (sketches preserved). Was recruited by the Chinese government department. Which he left at the outbreak of WWI "to fulfill my duty as a soldier in the defense of Tsingtau" (as he himself writes at the bottom of the Rothkegel certificate (preserved). Until he was called for military service in Tsingtau, then a German colony, he traveled extensively in China, Manchuria and Korea. Participated in the defense of Tsingtau 1914 as a reserve officer in the engineer company, Third Imperial Marines Battalion. October 1914 to 1919 prisoner of war in Japan, mainly at Kurume POW Camp. Immediately after release, he left for Indonesia to work as an architect for the Dutch colonial government. It is assumed that he stayed in Indonesia until the early 1930s. Traveled extensively throughout the Indonesian islands. Approached by the German publisher Wasmuth in 1925 for photographs for the project "Orbis terrarium," a series of books. It seems that the volume on Indonesia was never completed. Returned to Germany and married Johanna Elter, (born 1909, died 1950 in Southwest Africa). Steinbrück and his wife settled in Southwest Africa (present-day Namibia) and bought the Chaudamas farm near Outjo. During World War II, he was interned by the British, mandatory force for SWA, in South Africa in a camp called "Andalusia." During the time of internment, he kept busy writing his diaries and memories and lecturing about his extensive travels and about architecture to his comrades. He complained about the confiscation of most of his archives by the British. A small part, however, (i.e. except the Tsingtau and Japan portions which are at the Army Museum, Dresden), was brought to him during his internment. This part is now in Dutch hands, at the Museum of Architecture, Rotterdam. After 1945 he, a broken man, spent some time in SWA on the farm with his family and returned to Germany after his death in 1951. His only child, Sylvia, accompanied him to Germany, returned to SWA, married, sold the farm and died in a car accident in South Africa in 1979. As far as is known, Steinbrück did not work as a professional architect after leaving Indonesia. (Translated from English)