Wolfgang Liebeneiner
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner (6 October 1905 - 28 November 1987) was a German
actor
, film director
and theater director.
He was born in Liebau in Prussian Silesia. In 1928, he was taught by Otto Falckenberg
, the director of the Munich Kammerspiele
, in acting and directing. In 1936, Liebeneiner became a member of the Prussian State Theater of Berlin (Preußisches Staatstheater Berlin) and in 1938, he became artistic director of the German Film Academy Babelsberg (Deutsche Filmakademie Babelsberg). In 1941, he directed the film Ich klage an
(I accuse) in cooperation with the National Socialist
ministry of propaganda. The film was about voluntary Euthanasia
of a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis
, but was intended to support the T-4 Euthanasia Program. He received a doctorate
in the years from 1942 to 1945 while working for Universum Film AG
, the largest German film studio at that time.
In 1947, Wolfgang Liebeneiner directed the debut of Wolfgang Borchert
's play Draußen vor der Tür
in the Hamburger Kammerspiele
.
Liebeneiner was married twice: first, from 1934 to the actress Ruth Hellberg, then from 1944 to the actress Hilde Krahl
, with whom he had his daughter Johanna Liebeneiner, who also became a famous actress.
He died on 28 November 1987 in Vienna
after a long illness.
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...
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and theater director.
He was born in Liebau in Prussian Silesia. In 1928, he was taught by Otto Falckenberg
Otto Falckenberg
Otto Falckenberg was a German theatre director, manager and writer. In April 1901, he co-founded Die Elf Scharfrichter, the first political kabarett in Germany....
, the director of the Munich Kammerspiele
Munich Kammerspiele
The Munich Kammerspiele is a successful German language theatre in Munich. The Schauspielhaus in the Maximilianstrasse is the major stage.-History:...
, in acting and directing. In 1936, Liebeneiner became a member of the Prussian State Theater of Berlin (Preußisches Staatstheater Berlin) and in 1938, he became artistic director of the German Film Academy Babelsberg (Deutsche Filmakademie Babelsberg). In 1941, he directed the film Ich klage an
Ich klage an
Ich klage an is a 1941 German pro-euthanasia propaganda film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner.It was banned by Allied powers after the war....
(I accuse) in cooperation with the National Socialist
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
ministry of propaganda. The film was about voluntary Euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
of a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, but was intended to support the T-4 Euthanasia Program. He received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in the years from 1942 to 1945 while working for Universum Film AG
Universum Film AG
Universum Film AG, better known as UFA or Ufa, is a film company that was the principal film studio in Germany, home of the German film industry during the Weimar Republic and through World War II, and a major force in world cinema from 1917 to 1945...
, the largest German film studio at that time.
In 1947, Wolfgang Liebeneiner directed the debut of Wolfgang Borchert
Wolfgang Borchert
Wolfgang Borchert was a German author and playwright whose work was affected by his experience of dictatorship and his service in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. His work is among the best examples of the Trümmerliteratur movement in post-World War II Germany...
's play Draußen vor der Tür
Draußen vor der Tür
The Man Outside is a play by Wolfgang Borchert, written in a few days in the late autumn of 1946. It made its debut on German radio on 13 February 1947....
in the Hamburger Kammerspiele
Hamburger Kammerspiele
Hamburger Kammerspiele is a theatre in Hamburg, Germany....
.
Liebeneiner was married twice: first, from 1934 to the actress Ruth Hellberg, then from 1944 to the actress Hilde Krahl
Hilde Krahl
Hilde Krahl was an Austrian film actress. She appeared in 70 films between 1936 and 1994.She was born Hildegard Kolačný in Brod, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna, Austria...
, with whom he had his daughter Johanna Liebeneiner, who also became a famous actress.
He died on 28 November 1987 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
after a long illness.