In Switzerland Schwanitz stayed for six years with Mennonite mountain farmers rather isolated from society and without attending a school.
He returned to his parents in 1950 and school director who took a liking in him (seeing him as a modern "Kaspar Hauser") got him accepted directly into a gymnasium (highschool) and helped him to catch up with the curriculum.
Schwanitz graduated ultimately as best of his class and went on to pursue English studies, history and philosophy at universities in Münster, London, Philadelphia and Freiburg.
In 1978 he became a tenured professor for English studies at the University of Hamburg where he stayed until his early retirement in 1997 due to health issues.
The group garnered attraction in 1988 when it performed the play "MacBarsch" alluding to Uwe Barschel the leading figure in Waterkantgate, one West Germany's biggest political scandals.