Schroeder was born in Aussig, Reichsgau Sudetenland,[1][2] when his parents fled during World War II. He grew up in Fürholzen near Neufahrn, Upper Bavaria.[1] He attended the Camerloher-Gymnasium Freising [de] and finished with the Abitur.[3] He studied theatre science, German studies and ethnology at the University of Munich from 1966.[1]
Schroeder first worked, already during his studies, as assistant director for the broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR).[1] He wrote film scripts from 1968, including for Wolfgang Petersen. He directed audio plays, both his own and of others. In 1986, he was awarded the Grimme-Preis[2] for Der eiserne Weg [de], together with Hans-Werner Schmidt. In 1992, he received the German Film Award.[4][2] He wrote novels from 1993.[5] Schroeder was a member of the PEN Centre Germany.
Schroeder married Elke Heidenreich in 1972.[6] They collaborated on audio plays in the 1970s, and wrote books together after they separated in 1995, Rudernde Hunde in 2002, and Alte Liebe in 2009,[7][8][5] which became a bestseller.[4] They are the speakers in an audio play after Alte Liebe.[9] He summarised his work: "Ich schreibe ja immer aus dem Steinbruch meines eigenen Lebens heraus." (I always write from the quarry of my own life.)[5]
Schroeder's last residence was Ahrenshoop.[4] He died on 18 June 2023, at the age of 79.[4][5]
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