Anecdotes

His acting teacher Eugen Burg, father of his girlfriend Hansi, was killed in the concentration camp Theresienstadt (1944).

Stopped working in theater to distance himself from the Hitler regime, but the Nazis forced him to end his relationship with his longtime companion Hansi Burg, who finally emigrated to England via Switzerland. After World War II, they lived together again at Lake Starnberg until his death.

After his death the Wilhelmplatz, a square in Hamburg, Germany, was named after him.

Was drafted in 1915 and served at the Western front in World War I.

A vaudeville comedian and dancer, he became a theatrical star after appearing in plays by Max Reinhardt. He then made a successful transition to films after being cast by Josef von Sternberg in Der blaue Engel (1930), eventually becoming the preeminent German film star of the 1930's and 40's..

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Albers and his Jewish girlfriend Hansi Burg moved to Lake Starnberg in Bavaria. While Albers himself never showed public support for the Nazi regime, he became the most popular actor under Nazi rule. As the ultimate sign of his popularity, the Nazis even silently accepted his relationship with Hansi Burg for a long time. But Albers finally gave in to the pressure. Hansi Burg went to Switzerland and then to Great Britain in 1939, but they secretly remained a couple with him even managing to send her financial support. They were reunited after the war, when she returned to Germany in a British uniform.

His most famous song "Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb eins" (On the Reeperbahn at 12.30 a.m.) is the unofficial anthem of the colorful neighborhood of St. Pauli, which is known for its brothels, music and night clubs.

German actor and singer, closely associated with the city of Hamburg.

Unfortunately Hans Albers became addicted to the alcohol which finally weakened his health.

Although Hans Albers made no secret of not to think much of rulers he wasn't confronted with drastic measures. His popularity was too big, his disappearing would had caused too much attention.

In 1943, Albers starred in another classic German film Große Freiheit Nr. 7 with actress Ilse Werner. Some of the scenes are said to have been shot in Prague because of bomb damage to Hamburg. The sailing ship Padua for the outdoor scenes of the film has survived under Soviet and Russian flag until this day as Kruzenshtern.

During World War I he was called up and was wounded later. After his return he played nearly for all stages in Berlin and was successful as an actor, singer, comedian and artist.

One of his first sound films was a absolute world success at once and made Marlene Dietrich to a world star. It was the movie: "Der blaue Engel" (1930).

He has an entry in Jean Tulard's "Dictionnaire du Cinéma/Les Acteurs", published in Paris in 2007 by Robert Laffont/Bouquins, pages. 17-18 (ISBN: 978-2-221-10895-6).

Studied acting under Ewald Bach.

After the war he could continue his career till to the 50's, but his parts changed from daredevils to level-headed realist but still his popularity kept untouched.

In the sound film era he was in his element. As a devil of a fellow he took the lady's by storm and was also admired by the men. His saying "Hoppla, jetzt komm ich" became his Synonym.

The actor Hans Albers is connected to the German movie of the 30's.

In the 30's followed one hit to the other and his steel-blue eyes even showed to advantage in his black-and white movies in an impressive way.

Hans Albers wasn't a good student and he broke off his apprenticeship. Instead of this he turned to the uncertain profession of an actor and took first acting lessons. Subsequently he got engagements for touring companies, Vaudeville and other theaters.

Together with Heinz Rühmann he was a superstar in this time. As a result one completely forgot that Hans Albers appeared already in many silent movies, and if you become aware of that Hans Albers played in far more silent movies than in talkies, this will astonish many people.

With the movies "Bomben auf Monte Carlo" (1931), "F.P. 1 antwortet nicht" (32), "Der Mann, der Sherlock Holmes war" (1937) - where he created a unbeatable duo with Heinz Rühmann, "Sergeant Berry" (1938) and "Wasser für Canitoga" (1939) he became one of the most popular German movie stars.

Hans Albers collapsed during a theater performance with massive internal bleeding and died three months later on 24 July 1960 at a sanatorium in Kempfenhausen near Lake Starnberg at the age of 68.

Albers' name will forever be closely associated with his hometown of Hamburg, in particular the district of St. Pauli where there is a square named Hans-Albers-Platz in his honour. The square features a statue of Albers, created by the German artist Jörg Immendorff.

In the years of World War II followed a whole string of further important movies like the classic role in "Münchhausen" (1942) and "Grosse Freiheit Nr. 7" (1944).