Hermann Leopoldi (geb. Kohn)
Personalia
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Curriculum Vitae
Hermann Kohn was born in Vienna as the legitimate son of the musician Leopold Kohn and Hermine, née Wiener.
When the day awakens before the sun shines,
the columns march to the day's toil
into the gray morning.
And the forest is black and the sky red,
and we carry a piece of bread in our sack
and in our hearts, in our hearts the sorrows.O Buchenwald, I cannot forget you,
because you are my destiny.
Whoever left you can only appreciate
how wonderful freedom is!
O Buchenwald, we do not whine and complain,
and whatever our fate,
||: we still want to say yes to life,
because one day the day will come: then we will be free! And the blood is hot and the girl is far away,
and the wind sings softly, and I love her so much,
if only she would remain faithful, yes, faithful!
And the stones are hard, but our footing is firm,
and we carry the picks and spades with us
and in our hearts, in our hearts love.O Buchenwald, I cannot forget you ...
And the night is short, and the day is so long,
but a song rings out that the homeland sang:
We will not be robbed of our courage.
Keep pace, comrade, and do not lose heart,
for we carry the will to live in our blood
and in our hearts, in our hearts, faith.O Buchenwald, I cannot forget you ...
First as his own accompanist, then with Betja Milskaja, Herrmann Leopoldi performs Viennese songs, hits and couplets, most of which he composed himself (some of which were written by Peter Herz and Theodor Waldau, his preferred authors) (including: 'In einem kleinen Café in Hernals', 'Schön ist so ein Ringelspiel', 'I bin ein stiller Zecher', 'Überlandpartie', 'Powidltatschkerln', 'Schnucki', 'Heut' spielt der Uridil' and others), which became evergreens.
In 1922, the Leopoldi brothers finally opened the cabaret "Leopoldi-Wiesenthal", or "L.W." for short, at Rothgasse 5 in Vienna's 1st district together with the emcee Fritz Wiesenthal. The venue soon became known far beyond the country's borders, but had to close in 1925 for financial reasons. They then performed in Berlin and Switzerland and went on tour.
Hermann Leopoldi gradually became one of the most popular song composers and performers. He composed the music for Viennese songs and chansons and set texts by Peter Herz, Rudolf Skutajan, "Salpeter", Theodor Waldau, Robert Katscher, Fritz Löhner-Beda, Fritz Rotter and Hanns Haller to music. His stage partner from 1929 was Betja Milskaya, born around 1907 in Odessa as Basia Meiltreiger. Together they made guest appearances in Berlin, Paris, Budapest, Bucharest, Prague, Karlovy Vary and, of course, Vienna.
In the meantime, his wife Eugenie Leopoldi, who is already in the USA, and her parents are able to 'release' Hermann Leopoldi and send him an affidavit. Hermann Leopoldi was released from Buchenwald concentration camp on February 22, 1939 and emigrated to New York via Hamburg on March 6, 1939, where he was met by family and reporters. As soon as he set foot on American soil, he kissed it, a picture that went around the world.
In order to escape the imminent invasion of the German Wehrmacht and the occupation of Austria, both brothers travel to Brno in the night from March 11 to March 12, 1938 for an already planned performance on March 12. The train, which was already overcrowded with refugees, including Fritz Grünbaum, was stopped at the Czech border. Edvard Beneš had the border closed to refugees, and so everyone was sent back. On May 24, 1938, Hermann Leopoldi and his wife had already made preparations to enter the USA, he was taken from his apartment to the police station for "information" and from there to the emergency prison in Karajangasse. On May 31, 1938, he was deported to the Dachau concentration camp, where he was imprisoned together with Fritz Grünbaum, Paul Morgan and Fritz Löhner-Beda. On September 22, 1938, they were transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp. It was there that the Buchenwald Song was composed, with Hermann Leopoldi composing the music to Löhner-Beda's lyrics.
[...]
So I was forced to leave my beloved hometown of Vienna, with which my artistic work had been intimately connected all my life, to emigrate to America and take on citizenship there for professional reasons. I did acquire a second, American citizenship, but de facto I still feel Austrian.
[...]
In the United States of America, Hermann Leopoldi experienced the liberation of Austria from the National Socialist occupiers and the re-establishment of the Republic in April and May 1945. In 1947, he and Helly Möslein returned to Vienna at the invitation of the Minister of Education Felix Hurdes and the Vienna City Councillor for Culture Viktor Matejka. Hermann Leopoldi can continue where he was abruptly interrupted in 1938. Bars, variety theaters and entertainment venues are eager to have him and he tours Austria, Germany and Switzerland together with Helly Möslein. In 1955, Helly Möslein gave birth to their son Ronald.
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Citations
Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchiv (WStLA)
Wikipedia unter de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Leopoldi
Wien.Geschichte.Wiki unter www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Hermann_Leopoldi
www.geni.at
