Exteriors were shot in Germany, while all interiors were shot on a sound stage in Rome. When the German actors arrived in Rome, they ate pasta in abundance, something which the current economics of Germany could not afford. The German actors gained weight and shooting had to be postponed until they slimmed down to their original weights.
According to his autobiography, Klaus Kinski went in to audition for an unspecified part for Roberto Rossellini when he came to Berlin. He claims that after hours of waiting while Rossellini was on the phone with Anna Magnani in another room, Kinski characteristically burst out in anger and cursed Rossellini. The Italian director was reputedly heard saying as Kinski was storming out: "Chi è quello? Mi interessa! Fategli un provino!" (Translation: "Who is he? Interesting! Arrange for a screen test!")
The film underwent a restoration in 2013 through the Cineteca di Bologna.
The final film of Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy, which also includes Rome, ville ouverte (1945) and Païsa (1946).
On the occasion of the projection of this film in the Brussels Royal Filmmuseum (recently restyled as "Cinematek.be") on September 7th, 1997, the program quoted Belgian filmmaker Henri Storck (1907-1999): "It is a well-guarded secret, but during the filming in Berlin Marlene Dietrich - desperately in love - was Rossellini's secretary, typist, and translator."