A Black Forest Love Story in Germany: 1950-1959 Quiz

Answer: Marlene Dietrich plays the main role

The story of the operetta and all movies made of this genre is simple: boys meet girls, there are some harmless complications, and there is beautiful, colorful landscape, singing, and a happy ending.

It was based on the popular operetta "Schwarzwaldmaedel" (Black Forest girl). There was no happy ending for the composer of the operetta, Leon Jessel. Jessel was born in 1871 in Stettin (Germany), and in 1894 he changed from the Jewish religion to Christianity. In 1917 "Schwarzwaldmaedel" proved to be his masterpiece and one of Germany's most successful, if not the all time most successful, German operettas. Although people like Hitler and Himmler loved it, it was forbidden to be played from 1933 on. A Jew stayed a Jew for them, even if baptized for decades. Some special performances were allowed because it had so many fans. In 1939 Jessel wrote a letter to a friend: "I cannot work in a time when hatred of Jews threatens my people with destruction, where I do not know when that gruesome fate will likewise be knocking at my door." This letter was found two years later. He was arrested in December 1941, and what happened after that arrest led to his death on January 4, 1942.

The moviegoers of 1950 most likely didn't know this - or cared not to know. War was over, and they craved for light and happy entertainment. Happy people in a beautiful setting. It was the blockbuster of 1950, the first color movie of the post-war years filmed in Germany. Well, in the western part of Germany. Sonja Ziemann, the "Schwarzwaldmaedel" of the movie, was one of Germany's darlings in the 1950s. In later years, she described her work as kitsch. Something nobody would have said about the roles of Marlene!

On that September 7, 1950, Hank pretended that he understood a little German watching the movie, but thankfully the young girl Wilhelmine (the girl he just met) could translate. As she didn't want to disturb the rest of the audience, she had to sit close to him.

About the picture: Two hearts, the black forest, and music. If Marlene wasn't hiding behind the trees, she wasn't there.

Answer: Iran

One of the most interesting facts for the West German women getting a new perm was the fact that the Shah's mother-in-law was German and had married an Iranian nobleman and diplomat stationed in West Germany. Their beautiful daughter had lived in Germany for some time. Well, the first meeting of the Shah and his future bride happened in London. But who cares for such tiny details?

It was surely a glorious wedding on the 12th February 1951 in Tehran, Iran. The Shah and his bride made a pretty pair on a lot of pretty pictures. Sadly, no children were made. As Soraya didn't want to share her husband with a second wife for him, they divorced in 1958. Soraya died in 2001 in Paris, France. Her ex-husband had already died in 1979, in Cairo, Egypt. His wife Farah Diba had born a son, but, alas, as the Iranians had traded their totalitarian Shah for Ayatollahs, it didn't matter anymore!

Someone presented Wilhelmine and Hank with a beautiful Persian cat at their wedding. They called her Soraya. (See picture.)

Answer: No gold medal

The West Germans won zero gold medals, seven silver medals, and seventeen bronze medals. It was the only time in the 20th century without a golden one for Germany when taking part. And, if you ask about the communist half, they didn't take part. IOC wanted a united German team, the GDR didn't. Therefore, no athletes from the red East participated. A former and later again part of Germany, the Saarland, took part as a French protectorate. They won no medals at all. By the way: nobody won the 60 m dash, 200 m hurdles or Basque pelota. They were played in 1900 Paris/France Olympics, but not in 1952.

Well, the USA also won only 17 bronze medals - but they were able to add 19 silver medals and 40 golden ones as extras. In fact, they took the top place of the medal count.

My oh my, Hank was happy - not only because of his winning countrywomen and men, but also because of the birth of their little baby. He gave his Wilhelmine a golden medallion as a gift. What a nice guy, that Hank!

I tried to picture two silver medals. I hope you got the hint.

Answer: East Berlin

So much happened before and on the day itself, that I'll give you a shortened version. The German Democratic Republic existed under the watchful eye of the Soviet Union. The leading party, Socialist Unity Party of Germany under general secretary Walter Ulbricht, enforced the way into the direction of stalinization, which meant harsh rules.

In June 1953 protests started, and on June 17, it was a full-blown uprising with protests on the street, strikes, and damage to public buildings. Martial law was declared. Soviet tanks rolled. Mass arrests happened. At least 32 people were executed. After this, most people who did not went conform with the government preferred to get out of the country. After all - the gates to the West weren't closed at that time.

People in West Germany watched with horror at the tanks rolling in East Berlin and other East German towns like Dresden and the industrial hubbub of Bitterfeld. The West Berliners were especially frightened. It was much too close to feel comfortable! That day was declared as the day of German Unity and was an annual national holiday until the unification in 1990.

Depicted are a hammer, compass, and a red flag. The hammer and compass were in the emblem of the GDR Flag, together with an ear wreath (rye). As I'm bad with painting wreaths, I hope the hints are enough.

Answer: 1954 FIFA World Cup Final

Animated and agitated German soccer fans were glued to their radios. There were not that many TVs around, you see? The team of Sepp Herberger won 3-2, and the game was declared the miracle of Bern after the place of the event - Bern, Switzerland. It had a positive effect on the German self-esteem, still low after losing WWII. Hank was not surprised at the euphoria of his German guests. After all: if the Yankees...he put another bowl of pretzels on the table.

Take a count on the picture. Eleven players like a soccer team.

Answer: Fish (canned)

Actor Clemens Wilmenrod promoted the recipe on his own TV cooking show in 1955. But it is doubtful if he also invented it. Strange, but true: Germany's first real TV cook wasn't a real cook at all - he only played the best role of his career.

Roast a piece of toast.
Then, mam, spread some butter, add a slice of ham
A circle of pineapple, then on it cheese, please.
Under the grill the cheese will bubble,
get it out with not much trouble.

Nope, Clemens didn't rhyme. I did. But Clemens added a maraschino cherry to make it look pretty! Hank liked it. He didn't mind that many carbs. And the thing looked better as what I have painted!

You might recognize a piece of toast, a slice of ham, a slice of canned pineapple, and cheese in the picture.

Answer: Switzerland

While there are two semi-finals, pyrotechnics, and every kind of strange-looking people at 21st century Eurovision song festivals, Hank and Wilhelmine watched something completely different. There were seven countries, and each artist had to perform two songs. Did the two complain? I guess not. Looking at something happening in faraway Lugano in Switzerland was fun enough. Swiss chanteuse Lys Assia won with "Refrain". I can't tell you who was in second or last place. It wasn't seen as important enough to make it public.

I hope you know the flag.

Answer: Death of Adenauer

The drafted Bundeswehr soldiers started their military life on the first of April.

The United States CDC reported that a new flu had been present in Singapore since February. Thankfully, a vaccine was quickly developed. Nevertheless, in Germany alone 30,000 people died of that flu strain between September 1957 and April 1958. But don't let us talk about viruses and pandemic.

Sputnik reached its place in history on the 4th October 1957. The USSR had won the race to the stars. For the moment.

Adenauer was in the news in 1957 - not for dying, for being elected again as German chancellor. He would live until 1967. Ok, he was very old then. He was born in 1876 and looked his age. But no crosses and wreaths for him that time.

Answer: Witness for the Prosecution

It had been eight years after asking his girl for Marlene since Hank had last seen a movie with her. The original "Witness for the Prosecution" had its premiere in 1957, but the German release was in 1958. In this movie, Marlene was the mysterious witness, and Charles Laughton was the lawyer. It was based on an Agatha Christie play, and certainly had a lot of goosebumps. That knife... Hank knew the other movies, too. They were old ones from the 1930s.

If you watched the movie, you know about that knife, an important piece of evidence.

Answer: Elvis

Elvis was stationed in 1958 near Heidelberg until 1960. It was during this three years that he met his future wife, Priscilla. He also released quite a long list of records, including "A Big Hunk o' Love" and "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I".

Do you enjoy the Elvis haircut? I hope that's alright.