The record of "Lili Marleen" by Lale Andersen achieved over one million sales, earning a gold disc for the singer-songwriter and securing her place as a musical figure of the twentieth century. Originally released in 1939, this track transcended the boundaries of a global conflict to become an international hit played across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Early Career and Education
Born as Elisabeth Carlotta Helena Berta Bunnenberg in Lehe in 1905, she married the impressionist painter Paul Ernst Wilke in 1922. Following her divorce in 1931, she moved to Berlin to pursue acting, eventually attending the Schauspielschule at the Deutsches Theater. Throughout the 1930s, she performed in cabaret venues across Berlin, Zurich, and Munich, establishing a background in both stage performance and song.
Wartime Controversy
In 1939, she recorded "Lili Marleen," written by Norbert Schultze. The song gained immense popularity when broadcast by the Soldatensender Belgrad in 1941. Nazi officials, including Joseph Goebbels, disapproved of her associations with Jewish artists and her friendship with Rolf Liebermann, leading to a nine-month performance ban. She was later required to record a modified military version of the song in 1942.
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After the war, she returned to music with the 1952 success of "Die blaue Nacht am Hafen." She achieved further recognition with "Ein Schiff wird kommen..." in 1959. In 1961, she represented West Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder." Her career included extensive touring through Europe, Canada, and the United States until her 1967 farewell tour.
Final Years
She authored a guide on the music industry before releasing her autobiography, Der Himmel hat viele Farben, in 1972. This book appeared on the bestselling list of Der Spiegel magazine shortly before her death. She passed away in Vienna on 29 August 1972 from liver cancer and was buried at the Dünenfriedhof on the island of Langeoog.
Fast facts
- Born: 1905, Lehe
- Died: 1972, Vienna
- Burial site: Dünenfriedhof Langeoog
- Major hit: Lili Marleen (1939)
- Eurovision entry: 1961
- Second husband: Artur Beul
- Autobiography: Der Himmel hat viele Farben
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the song Lili Marleen?
It became the largest international hit of World War II, popular with both Axis and Allied troops, selling over one million copies.
Did Lale Andersen face censorship by the Nazi government?
Yes. Joseph Goebbels banned her from performing for nine months due to her associations with Jewish artists and concerns regarding the song's influence.
What other roles did Andersen hold beyond singing?
She was a songwriter, actor, screenwriter, musician, and published author.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
