Fritz Diez
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the West German industrialist Fritz Dietz.
Fritz Diez (27 February 1901 – 19 October 1979) was a German
actor, producer, director and theater manager.
, Diez left his work as an electrician's apprentice and began taking acting classes in the Meiningen School of Dramatic Arts. He devoted himself to professional acting ever since, appearing on the stages of theaters in Flensburg
, Hanau
, Baden-Baden
, Würzburg
and Eger
. While performing in the Eisenach
Theater, he met his future wife, actress Martha Beschort. The two married in 1923.
At 1932, while he and Martha were working in the theater of Bremerhaven
, they both joined the KPD
. Diez, who originally was a member of the Union of German Stage Workers, joined the Profintern
-oriented Revolutionary Trade Union Opposition
and was elected as chairman of the theater's branch.
, Diez's home was raided by the Gestapo
. On 6 March, immediately after the elections, the actor was dismissed from his work for being a communist. During 1935, Diez - fearing an interrogation by the Gestapo - had to emigrate from Germany. He and his wife traveled to Switzerland
, where he worked in the St. Gallen Theater
. Diez became involved in the communist and anti-fascist circles of German exiles that were formed in the country. The St. Gallen Theater's manager, Theo Modes, was a supporter of the Third Reich, and Diez was "completely isolated" in his place of work. At 1943 he joined the Swiss branch of the recently founded National Committee for a Free Germany
. By the end of the war, Diez headed the St. Gallen fraction of the Democratic Union of Germans in Switzerland, an offshoot of the Committee. He also edited this movement's newspaper.
. On 1947, he was appointed its manager. At 1952, he made his debut on screen in the DEFA film Shadow Over The Islands
. He appeared in some twenty films until the end of his career, as well as in several television productions.
On 1954, Diez left Meiningen, remaining an honorable member of the theater, and instead took the position of the Halle National Theater's manager. On 1958 he joined the Dresden
Theater as an actor and a director. During the 1960s, he performed and directed plays in the Volksbühne
and in the Deutsches Theater
. Diez was also a member of the German Shakespeare Society.
The figure of Hitler, which he first portrayed in the Meiningen Theater during 1947, was described by Diez as an "ungrateful role which always seemed to pursue me." He played the character on screen in seven different productions - Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse
(1955), I, Justice
, Frozen Flashes
(both 1967), Liberation
(1970-1), 17 Moments of Spring (1973), Take Aim
(1974) and Soldiers of Freedom
(1977). Dilara Ozerova - the wife of Yuri Ozerov, who directed Liberation - claimed that Diez was reluctant to accept the invitation to depict Hitler in her husband's film series, fearing typecasting
, but had to accept it as a "Party
mission". Author Charles P. Mitchell wrote that the actor was "Eastern Europe's equivalent to Bobby Watson
in terms of the frequency of his Hitler appearances."
At 9 October 1979, shortly before his death, he was awarded the title of an Honorary Citizen of Meiningen.
Fritz Diez (27 February 1901 – 19 October 1979) was a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
actor, producer, director and theater manager.
Early life
Diez's mother was a servant, and raised her three children alone. To support his family, the child began working at the age of nine. While on the 7th grade, he appeared in his class' production of Wilhelm Tell. At 1920, after joining the Meiningen Ducal Theater in the role of a supernumerary actorSupernumerary actor
Supernumerary actors are usually amateur character actors in opera and ballet performances who train under professional direction to create a believable scene.- Definition :...
, Diez left his work as an electrician's apprentice and began taking acting classes in the Meiningen School of Dramatic Arts. He devoted himself to professional acting ever since, appearing on the stages of theaters in Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
, Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
, Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and Eger
Eger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
. While performing in the Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
Theater, he met his future wife, actress Martha Beschort. The two married in 1923.
At 1932, while he and Martha were working in the theater of Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
, they both joined the KPD
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
. Diez, who originally was a member of the Union of German Stage Workers, joined the Profintern
Profintern
The Red International of Labor Unions , commonly known as the Profintern, was an international body established by the Communist International with the aim of coordinating Communist activities within trade unions...
-oriented Revolutionary Trade Union Opposition
Revolutionäre Gewerkschafts Opposition
The Revolutionäre Gewerkschafts Opposition was the communist union in Germany during the Weimar Republic. It went underground after the Nazi Party seized control of the government and continued operating until it was crushed by the Nazis in 1935.- Weimar era :The Communist International, and the...
and was elected as chairman of the theater's branch.
Exile
On the morning of 28 February 1933, a day after the Reichstag fireReichstag fire
The Reichstag fire was an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27 February 1933. The event is seen as pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany....
, Diez's home was raided by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. On 6 March, immediately after the elections, the actor was dismissed from his work for being a communist. During 1935, Diez - fearing an interrogation by the Gestapo - had to emigrate from Germany. He and his wife traveled to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he worked in the St. Gallen Theater
Theater St. Gallen
The Theater St. Gallen is a performing arts center for opera, musical, ballet, and theatre in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and considered to be the oldest professional theatre in Switzerland....
. Diez became involved in the communist and anti-fascist circles of German exiles that were formed in the country. The St. Gallen Theater's manager, Theo Modes, was a supporter of the Third Reich, and Diez was "completely isolated" in his place of work. At 1943 he joined the Swiss branch of the recently founded National Committee for a Free Germany
National Committee for a Free Germany
The National Committee for a Free Germany was a German anti-Nazi organization that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II.- History :...
. By the end of the war, Diez headed the St. Gallen fraction of the Democratic Union of Germans in Switzerland, an offshoot of the Committee. He also edited this movement's newspaper.
German Democratic Republic
Diez returned to the Soviet-administered Meiningen at 1946. He worked in the municipal theater, first as an actor and later as a director and an artistic directorArtistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
. On 1947, he was appointed its manager. At 1952, he made his debut on screen in the DEFA film Shadow Over The Islands
Shadow Over The Islands (film)
Schatten über den Inseln is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Otto Meyer. It was released in 1952.-Plot:...
. He appeared in some twenty films until the end of his career, as well as in several television productions.
On 1954, Diez left Meiningen, remaining an honorable member of the theater, and instead took the position of the Halle National Theater's manager. On 1958 he joined the Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
Theater as an actor and a director. During the 1960s, he performed and directed plays in the Volksbühne
Volksbühne
The Volksbühne is a theater in Berlin, Germany. Located in Berlin's city center Mitte on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in what was the GDR's capital....
and in the Deutsches Theater
Deutsches Theater
The Deutsches Theater in Berlin is a well-known German theatre. It was built in 1850 as Friedrich-Wilhelm-Städtisches Theater, after Frederick William IV of Prussia. Located on Schumann Street , the Deutsches Theater consists of two adjoining stages that share a common, classical facade...
. Diez was also a member of the German Shakespeare Society.
The figure of Hitler, which he first portrayed in the Meiningen Theater during 1947, was described by Diez as an "ungrateful role which always seemed to pursue me." He played the character on screen in seven different productions - Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse
Ernst Thälmann (film)
Ernst Thälmann is an East German film in two parts about the life of the German Communist leader Ernst Thälmann, directed by Kurt Maetzig and starring Günther Simon in the title role. The first picture, Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse , was released at 1954...
(1955), I, Justice
I, Justice (film)
I, Justice is a 1968 Czechoslovak psychological thriller, directed by Zbyněk Brynych.-Plot:...
, Frozen Flashes
Frozen Flashes (film)
Die gefrorenen Blitze is a two-part 1967 East-German film...
(both 1967), Liberation
Liberation (film series)
Liberation is an epic five-part film series considered the most large-scale World War II film ever made in the Soviet Union. Filmed from 1967 to 1971, the first part was released during 1970 for the 25th anniversary of Victory Day...
(1970-1), 17 Moments of Spring (1973), Take Aim
Take Aim (1974 film)
Take Aim is a 1974 two-part Soviet film directed by Igor Talankin.-Plot:The film depicts the nuclear arms race that took place between all sides in the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War...
(1974) and Soldiers of Freedom
Soldiers of Freedom
Soldiers of Freedom is a 1977 film directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. Soldiers of Freedom is the World War II historical drama.-Plot:...
(1977). Dilara Ozerova - the wife of Yuri Ozerov, who directed Liberation - claimed that Diez was reluctant to accept the invitation to depict Hitler in her husband's film series, fearing typecasting
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
, but had to accept it as a "Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
mission". Author Charles P. Mitchell wrote that the actor was "Eastern Europe's equivalent to Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson is an American post-bop jazz alto saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator. Watson now has 26 recordings as a leader. He appears on nearly 100 other recordings as either co-leader or in a supporting role...
in terms of the frequency of his Hitler appearances."
At 9 October 1979, shortly before his death, he was awarded the title of an Honorary Citizen of Meiningen.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Shadow Over The Islands Shadow Over The Islands (film) Schatten über den Inseln is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Otto Meyer. It was released in 1952.-Plot:... |
Arne Horn | |
| 1953 | Swings Or Roundabouts Jacke wie Hose This article is about the film. It is not to be confused with Manfred Karga's play by the same name.Jacke wie Hose is an East German comedy film, directed by Eduard Kubat... |
Hellwand | |
| 1955 | Ernst Thälmann Ernst Thälmann (film) Ernst Thälmann is an East German film in two parts about the life of the German Communist leader Ernst Thälmann, directed by Kurt Maetzig and starring Günther Simon in the title role. The first picture, Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse , was released at 1954... |
Adolf Hitler | |
| 1956 | Thomas Müntzer Thomas Müntzer (film) Thomas Muentzer is a 1956 East German film about the life of the 16th-Century Protestant theologian and peasant leader Thomas Muentzer, directed by Martin Hellberg.-Plot:At 1519, the teachings of Martin Luther sweep through the German principalities... |
Field Captain Hoffmann | |
| 1956 | Duped Till Doomsday Duped Till Doomsday Duped Till Doomsday is a 1957 East German drama film directed by Kurt Jung-Alsen. It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Uncredited role | |
| 1959 | Special Mission Im Sonderauftrag Im Sonderauftrag is an East German black-and-white film directed by Heinz Thiel. It was released in 1959.-Plot:... |
Captain Lieutenant Wegner | |
| 1959 | The Goodies Musterknaben Musterknaben is an East German romantic comedy film, directed by Johannes Knittel. It was released in 1959.-Plot:... |
Weber | |
| 1959 | The Punch Bowl The Punch Bowl (1959 film) Maibowle is an East German musical comedy film, released in 1959. It was directed by Günter Reisch.-Plot:... |
State Secretary Frisch | |
| 1959 | SAS 181 Does Not Reply SAS 181 antwortet nicht SAS 181 antwortet nicht is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Carl Balhaus. It was released in 1959.-Plot:... |
The intendant | |
| 1959 | Goods for Catalonia Ware für Katalonien Ware für Katalonien is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Richard Groschopp. It was released in 1959.-Plot:... |
Captain Gerner | |
| 1960 | Doctor Ahrendt's Decision Doctor Ahrendt's Decision (film) Die Entscheidung des Dr. Ahrendt is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Frank Vogel. It was released in 1960.-Plot:... |
Scholz | |
| 1960 | Always on Duty Always on Duty (film) Zu jeder Stunde is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Heinz Thiel. It was released in 1960.-Plot:... |
Father Kraft | |
| 1960 | Five Cartridges Five Cartridges Five Cartridges is a 1960 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Manfred Krug.-Plot:During the Spanish Civil War, a battalion of the International Brigades is cut off withouts water or ammunition... |
Major Bolaños | |
| 1963 | Carbide and Sorrel Carbide and Sorrel Carbide and Sorrel is a 1963 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck.-Plot:At 1945, in the devastated city of Dresden, Karl 'Kalle' Blücher - a former worker in the cigarettes factory - returns home, wishing to resume his job. The chief of the reconstruction team... |
Worker | |
| 1966 | The Escape In The Silent The Escape In The Silent (film) Flucht ins Schweigen is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Siegfried Hartmann... |
Stetter | |
| 1967 | Frozen Flashes Frozen Flashes (film) Die gefrorenen Blitze is a two-part 1967 East-German film... |
Adolf Hitler | |
| 1967 | I, Justice I, Justice (film) I, Justice is a 1968 Czechoslovak psychological thriller, directed by Zbyněk Brynych.-Plot:... |
Adolf Hitler | |
| 1970 | Liberation Liberation (film series) Liberation is an epic five-part film series considered the most large-scale World War II film ever made in the Soviet Union. Filmed from 1967 to 1971, the first part was released during 1970 for the 25th anniversary of Victory Day... I: The Fire Bulge |
Adolf Hitler | |
| 1970 | Liberation II: Breakthrough | Adolf Hitler | |
| 1971 | Liberation III: Direction of the Main Blow | Adolf Hitler | |
| 1971 | Liberation IV: The Battle of Berlin | Adolf Hitler | |
| 1971 | Liberation V: The Last Assault | Adolf Hitler | |
| 1972 | Hurray! We Are Going on a Vacation! | Grandfather | |
| 1976 | Take Aim Take Aim (1974 film) Take Aim is a 1974 two-part Soviet film directed by Igor Talankin.-Plot:The film depicts the nuclear arms race that took place between all sides in the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War... |
Adolf Hitler/Otto Hahn Otto Hahn Otto Hahn FRS was a German chemist and Nobel laureate, a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He is regarded as "the father of nuclear chemistry". Hahn was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis and after World War II he became a passionate campaigner... |
|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | A Man and his Shadow | Uncredited role | |
| 1963 | Carl von Ossietzky | Hellmut von Gerlach Hellmut von Gerlach Hellmut Georg von Gerlach was a German journalist and politician.-Life:Hellmut von Gerlach, the son of landowner Max von Gerlach, was born in Mönchmotschelnitz in Silesia. He studied law at the universities of Gent, Strasbourg, Leipzig, and Berlin, and was a member of the Verein Deutscher Studenten... |
|
| 1963 ' | Blue Light | Major Löbel | Episode 18: Hot Money |
| 1965 | Moments of Joy | Otto Meinicke | |
| 1966 | Secret Unit Boomerang | Uncredited role | |
| 1966 | No Victory Without Struggle | Hermann Abs | |
| 1967 | Blue Light | Dr. Döppke | Episode 28:Night Patrol |
| 1969 | Three From the K | The committee chief | Episode 13: A Strange Case |
| 1970 | Tscheljuskin | Valerian Kuybyshev | |
| 1973 | Seventeen Moments of Spring Seventeen Moments of Spring Seventeen Moments of Spring is a 1973 Soviet TV miniseries. It was filmed at Gorky Film Studio, directed by Tatyana Lioznova and based on the book of the same title by the novelist Yulian Semyonov. The series comprises 12 episodes of 70 minutes each... |
Adolf Hitler | Episodes no. 1, 3 and 5 |
| 1973 | The Wondrous Treasure | Judge | |
| 1974 | New From Florentiner No. 73 | Krawuttcke | |
| 1977 | Soldiers of Freedom Soldiers of Freedom Soldiers of Freedom is a 1977 film directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. Soldiers of Freedom is the World War II historical drama.-Plot:... |
Adolf Hitler | Four episodes |
| 1978 | Dangerous Inquiry | Uncredited role | Season 1, Episode 2: Death in the Alpsee Alpsee The Alpsee is a lake in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany, located about 4 kilometres southeast of Füssen. It is close to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.... |
| 1980 | Joy in the Rear Exit | Karl's father | Filmed before Diez's death |
| 1993 | The Tragedy of the 20th Century | Adolf Hitler | Compilation of footage from older pictures |
| 1995 | The Great Captain Georgy Zhukov Georgy Zhukov Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov , was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who, in the course of World War II, played a pivotal role in leading the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe to liberate the Soviet Union and other nations from the Axis Powers' occupation... |
Adolf Hitler | Compilation of footage from older pictures |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Story of the Christmas Man | Narrator | |
| 1961 | Two Goats | Narrator | |
| 1961 | Aunt Minna, her Dog and Science | Narrator | |
External links
- Fritz Diez on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
. - Fritz Diez. defa-sternstunden.de.