In 1943, Eberhard Rebling purchased a residence in the Netherlands under an assumed name to provide a sanctuary for Jewish refugees facing deportation. This act of defiance during the Second World War risked his own life and ultimately led to his arrest by the Gestapo, marking a pivotal moment in his long career as a musician and academic.
Early Musical Development and Academic Pursuit
Born in 1911 in Berlin, Rebling grew up in a Prussian officer's family. He commenced formal piano training at age seven, eventually studying under Lydia Lenz. His early promise was validated in 1929 when he secured first prize at the Interpreters Competition of the German Artists' Association. He pursued rigorous academic studies at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin, specializing in musicology, philosophy, and German studies. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1935, exploring the sociological foundations of musical style in the 18th century under Arnold Schering.
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Rebling's political consciousness sharpened after witnessing the Reichstag fire. By 1936, his opposition to the regime forced his emigration to The Hague. In the Netherlands, he integrated into the local cultural sphere as a musicologist and critic. In 1937, he toured Java and Sumatra as an accompanist. His clandestine efforts to protect refugees at his home ended in 1944 when his operation was exposed. While he managed to escape the ensuing Gestapo raid, his wife, the dancer Lin Jaldati, was deported to Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen; they reunited in 1945.
Career in the German Democratic Republic
Following the war, Rebling moved to the GDR in 1952 at the invitation of Paul Wandel. He held a significant role at the Hanns Eisler Music School Berlin, eventually serving as its rector. A member of the Socialist Unity Party, he participated in the Volkskammer and contributed to the cultural administration of the state. He remained active in musicology, focusing on ballet and the traditional dances of India and Indonesia. In his later years, he served on the Council of Elders for the Party of Democratic Socialism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Berlin
- Died: 2008, Königs Wusterhausen
- Primary Occupations: Politician, pianist, musicologist
- Notable Award: Righteous Among the Nations (2007)
- Political Affiliations: KPD, SED, PDS, Die Linke
- Major Recognition: Order of Karl Marx (1986)
- Burial Site: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
- Citizenship: Germany, German Democratic Republic
Questions readers ask
What was Eberhard Rebling's contribution to the Hanns Eisler Music School?
He served as professor and rector of the institution and was responsible for its renaming to Hanns Eisler Music School.
Why was Rebling honored by Yad Vashem?
He was named Righteous Among the Nations in 2007 for sheltering Jewish refugees in his Dutch home during the Holocaust.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 2007
- Order of Karl Marx — 1986
- National Prize of East Germany — 1954
- Artur Becker Medal
- Artur Becker Medal in Gold — 1971
- Worked as politician, pianist and musicologist
