Erwin Geschonneck
Encyclopedia
Erwin Geschonneck was a German
actor
. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic
, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.
, East Prussia
(now Bartoszyce, Poland
), the son of a poor shoemaker. The family moved to Berlin
in 1909 so his father could work as a nightwatchman
. In 1919, the younger Geschonneck joined the Communist Party of Germany
. After the Nazi takeover in 1933, he emigrated to the Soviet Union
via Poland
, but was expelled in 1938 and moved to Prague. After the German occupation of Bohemia and Moravia
, he was arrested on March 31, 1939. During the war
, he was imprisoned in several concentration camps. In 1945, Geschonneck was one of the few prisoners who survived the RAF
sinking of the Cap Arcona.
, Germany, and made his film debut in 1947 in In jenen Tagen. He subsequently moved to East Germany, worked with Bertolt Brecht
, and became a successful actor. The German movie "Jacob, the Liar" by Frank Beyer
was nominated for Best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 1975 - the only one nomination for G.D.R. In December 2006, he turned 100.
His last movie, made in 1995 for the German television network ARD
, was Matulla und Busch, where he played alongside veteran actor Fred Delmare
. Geschonneck's son, Matti Geschonneck, directed.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.
Early life
Geschonneck was born in BartensteinBartoszyce
Bartoszyce is a town on the Łyna River in northeastern Poland with 25,621 inhabitants . It is the capital of Bartoszyce County within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.-History:...
, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(now Bartoszyce, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
), the son of a poor shoemaker. The family moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1909 so his father could work as a nightwatchman
Nightwatchman
Nightwatchman can refer to one of the following:* Watchman * Nightwatchman , a lower-order batsman who comes in to bat higher up the order than usual near the end of the day's play* The Nightwatchman or Tom Morello, musician...
. In 1919, the younger Geschonneck joined the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
. After the Nazi takeover in 1933, he emigrated to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
via Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, but was expelled in 1938 and moved to Prague. After the German occupation of Bohemia and Moravia
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was the majority ethnic-Czech protectorate which Nazi Germany established in the central parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia in what is today the Czech Republic...
, he was arrested on March 31, 1939. During the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was imprisoned in several concentration camps. In 1945, Geschonneck was one of the few prisoners who survived the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
sinking of the Cap Arcona.
Career
Immediately following the war, Geschonneck acted in theaters in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany, and made his film debut in 1947 in In jenen Tagen. He subsequently moved to East Germany, worked with Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, and became a successful actor. The German movie "Jacob, the Liar" by Frank Beyer
Frank Beyer
Frank Beyer was German film director. In East Germany he was one of the most important film directors, working for the state film monopoly DEFA and directed films that dealt mostly with the Nazi era and contemporary East Germany. His film Traces of Stones was banned for 20 years in 1966 by the...
was nominated for Best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 1975 - the only one nomination for G.D.R. In December 2006, he turned 100.
His last movie, made in 1995 for the German television network ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
, was Matulla und Busch, where he played alongside veteran actor Fred Delmare
Fred Delmare
Fred Delmare was a German actor.He was born in Hüttensteinach. He appeared in several films and television series, last in 70 episodes of In aller Freundschaft between 1998 and 2006. He died in May, 1 2009....
. Geschonneck's son, Matti Geschonneck, directed.
Filmography
- Matulla und Busch (1995) (TV)
- Mensch, mein Papa...! (1988)
- Wie die Alten sungen... (1986)
- Das Graupenschloß (1982) (TV)
- Der Mann von der Cap Arcona (1982)
- Benno macht Geschichten (1982) (TV)
- Looping - Der lange Traum vom kurzen Glück (1981)
- Meschkas Enkel (1981) (TV)
- Levins Mühle (1980)
- Circus maximus (1980)
- Asta, mein Engelchen (1980)
- Verlobung in Hullerbusch (1979) (TV)
- Ding im Schloß, Das (1979)
- Plantagenstraße 19 (1979) (TV)
- Herbstzeit (1979) (TV)
- Des Kleinen Lokführers große Fahrt (1978) (TV)
- Anton, der Zauberer (1978)
- Tambari (1977)
- Das Licht auf dem Galgen (1976)
- Ein Altes Modell (1976) (TV)
- Die Insel der Silberreiher (1976) (TV)
- Ein Wigwam für die Störche (1976) (TV)
- Bankett für Achilles (1975)
- Im Schlaraffenland (1975) (TV)
- Jakob, der Lügner (1975)
- Looping (1975)
- Der Untergang der Emma (1974)
- "Das Geheimnis der Anden" (1972) (mini) TV Series
- Sonnensucher (1972)
- "Jeder stirbt für sich allein" (1970) (mini) TV Series
- Wir kaufen eine Feuerwehr (1970)
- "Rendezvous mit Unbekannt" (1969) (mini) TV Series
- Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog (1967)
- Geschichten jener Nacht (1967)
- Ein Lord am Alexanderplatz (1967)
- Die Ermittlung – Oratorium in 11 GesängenThe Investigation (play)The Investigation is a play by Peter Weiss written in 1965 which depicts the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963-1965. It premiered on October 19, 1965 on stages in fourteen West and East German cities and at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. It carries the subtitle "Oratorio in 11 Cantos"...
(1966) (TV) - Tiefe Furchen (1965)
- Berlin um die Ecke (1965)
- Asphalt-Story (1964) (TV)
- Carbide and SorrelCarbide and SorrelCarbide and Sorrel is a 1963 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck.-Plot:At 1945, in the devastated city of Dresden, Karl 'Kalle' Blücher - a former worker in the cigarettes factory - returns home, wishing to resume his job. The chief of the reconstruction team...
(1963) - Der Andere neben dir (1963) (TV)
- Naked Among WolvesNaked Among Wolves (film)Naked Among Wolves is a 1963 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck and Armin Mueller-Stahl. The film is based on the 1958 novel, also titled Naked Among Wolves, by Bruno Apitz.-Plot:...
(1963) - Ach, du fröhliche (1962)
- "Gewissen in Aufruhr" (1961) (mini) TV Series
- Five CartridgesFive CartridgesFive Cartridges is a 1960 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Manfred Krug.-Plot:During the Spanish Civil War, a battalion of the International Brigades is cut off withouts water or ammunition...
(1960) - Leute mit Flügeln (1960)
- SAS 181 antwortet nichtSAS 181 antwortet nichtSAS 181 antwortet nicht is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Carl Balhaus. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
(1959) - MusterknabenMusterknabenMusterknaben is an East German romantic comedy film, directed by Johannes Knittel. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
(1959) - Der Lotterieschwede (1958)
- Schlösser und KatenSchlösser und KatenSchlösser und Katen is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was released in 1957.-Part 1: Hunchback Anton:...
(1957) - Katzgraben (1957)
- Der Hauptmann von KölnThe Captain from CologneThe Captain from Cologne is an East German film directed by Slatan Dudow. It was released in 1956.-Cast:* Rolf Ludwig as Albert Hauptmann* Erwin Geschonneck as Hans Karjanke* Else Wolz as Adele* Christel Bodenstein as Hannelore Ullrich...
(1956) - Die Abenteuer des Till Eulenspiegel (1956)
- Das StacheltierDas StacheltierDas Stacheltier was a satirical series of short films that was produced by the East German DEFA Film Studios from 1953 to 1964. The short films were meant to be shown in film theaters preceding the newsreel and the main feature...
: Es geht um die Wurst (1955) - Das StacheltierDas StacheltierDas Stacheltier was a satirical series of short films that was produced by the East German DEFA Film Studios from 1953 to 1964. The short films were meant to be shown in film theaters preceding the newsreel and the main feature...
: Das Haushaltswunder (1955) - Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (1955)
- Alarm im ZirkusAlarm in the CircusAlarm in the Circus is an East German crime film directed by Gerhard Klein. It was released in 1954.-Plot:Klaus and Max are two poor boys from West Berlin, whose families are to poor to pay for their higher education. They face a bleak future. Their only hobby is boxing, and they are both...
(1954) - Die Gewehre der Frau Carrar (1953) (TV)
- Die Unbesiegbaren (1953)
- Schatten über den InselnShadow Over The Islands (film)Schatten über den Inseln is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Otto Meyer. It was released in 1952.-Plot:...
(1952) - Das Beil von WandsbekThe Axe of Wandsbek (1951 film)The Axe of Wandsbek is an 1951 East German film, directed by Falk Harnack.-Plot:1934, Hamburg. Adolf Hitler is about to visit the city. Hamburg's executioner falls ill, and is unable to deliver the sentence of four communists who are awaiting capital punishment in jail...
(1951) - Das Kalte HerzHeart of Stone (1950 film)Heart of Stone is an East German fantasy film directed by Paul Verhoeven. The first East German film made in Agfacolor, it was released in 1950.-Plot:Peter, a woodsman and his mother live in the Black Forest where he exists by selling charcoal...
(1950) - Der Biberpelz (1949)
- Liebe '47 (1949)
- Die Letzte Nacht (1949)
- Hafenmelodie (1949)
- Finale (1948)
- In jenen Tagen (1947)
External links
- Hollywood Reporter: German film star Erwin Geschonneck dies
- International Herald Tribune: Famed East German actor, jailed by Nazis for communist sympathies, dies at 101
- New York Times: Erwin Geschonneck, Star of Many East German Films, Dies at 101
- The Guardian: Erwin Geschonneck, A respected actor, he survived Hitler's camps to become a star in East Germany
- Variety Magazine: Actor Erwin Geschonnek dies at 101
- Erwin Geschonneck
- "Geschonneck in Bildern" article in Berliner ZeitungBerliner ZeitungThe Berliner Zeitung, founded in 1945, is a German center-left daily newspaper based in Berlin, published by Berliner Verlag. It is the only East German paper to achieve national prominence since unification. In 2003, the Berliner was Berlin's largest subscription newspaper—the weekend...