Alfred Weidenmann

Alfred Weidenmann (born May 10, 1916 in Stuttgart ; † June 9, 2000 in Zurich , Switzerland - pseudonym: W. Derfla ) was a German director and author of books for young people .

Life and career

Alfred Weidenmann was born the son of a factory owner. After attending secondary school , he studied painting and graphics for three semesters at the art academy and worked as a photographer . After membership in a scout association , Weidenmann joined the Hitler Youth and the NSDAP in 1934 (No. 3.456.764). He worked as a journalist for the Berliner Illustrirten Zeitung , was from 1934 to 1936 with the Volkische Reichssturmfahne and 1935/36 with the Nazi courier and wrote travel books. From 1934 to the spring of 1936, Weidenmann was also press and propaganda advisor in the propaganda department of the HJ regional leadership in Stuttgart and then head of the “Film” department.

In 1935 Weidenmann made a propaganda film about the Hitler Youth, Jungbann 2 . It was his first film as a screenwriter and director. He also processed the material into the book Jungzug 2 , a short story. From this he made a trilogy of 50 boys on duty ( Trupp Plassen , 1937; Gunner Brakke No. 2 , 1938) for which Weidenmann was awarded the 3rd prize of the Hans Schemm Prize of the NSLB in 1937/38 . Weidenmann did his Reich Labor Service and from autumn 1936 to 1938 his military service in the Wehrmacht .

From 1938 to 1940, Weidenmann took over the publication of the thirteen-volume book series “ Bücher der Jungs”, supported as a young writer . His 1939 novel Jakko about the Navy Hitler Youth was made into a film in 1941. From 1939 Weidenmann belonged to the Reich Youth Leadership of the NSDAP . In the press and propaganda office of the Reich Youth Leadership, he took over the editing of the " War Library of German Youth ", for which he also wrote as an author under the pseudonym W. Derfla . In the course of 1940 Weidenmann was drafted into the Wehrmacht , but was released after serving in the front in France and the Soviet Union.

Promoted to Bannführer of the HJ in April 1942, Weidenmann became head and director of the HJ film show Young Europe and at the same time became head of the main “Film” department in the Reich Youth Leadership. In the same year he made his debut as a film director with the feature film Hands up! . Together with Herbert Reinecker , he made the propaganda film Junge Adler (1943/44).

When the Red Army marched into Berlin , Weidenmann was taken prisoner by the Soviets. Several of his writings were placed on the list of literature to be segregated in the Soviet occupation zone .

After his release from captivity, he first wrote books for young people. These were published by Loewe Verlag , where he had mainly published before 1945. Tadpole, Boss of the Newspaper Boy , the sequel Tadpole and the Counterfeiters as well as Luggage Ticket 666 are among the most successful books for young people of their time; Luggage receipt 666 was made into a film by Theo Mezger in 1961 . Weidenmann's book series The Glorious 7 , which comprised six volumes up to 1986, was also very popular.

As a film director, Weidenmann has made three cultural films since 1953, of which Weg in die Freiheit received the German Film Prize. After that, Weidenmann made feature films again. An example in which he filmed a contemporary historical theme was Canaris (1954). Filmportal.de, a homepage that deals with films under National Socialism and film, calls this film a "falsification of history à la 1950s". Weidenmann also directed crime and entertainment films in which prominent German actors and actresses appeared. One example is Scampolo (1957) with Romy Schneider .

In the 1970s, the cinema director became a sought-after television director, who worked, among other things, in the series Der Kommissar , Derrick and Sonderdezernat K1 as well as in television specials with Lilli Palmer and Martin Held .

In 1984 Weidenmann moved to Switzerland.

Alfred Weidenmann died at the age of 84 in Zurich while preparing for an episode of the series Der Alte . His grave is in the forest cemetery in Stuttgart .

Awards

• 1936 1st prize in the competition of the Association of German Amateur Filmmakers
• 1938: Hans Schemm Prize of the NSLB for the book trilogy Junge im Dienst
• 1942 “best youth film of the mainland” at the film competition of the European youth in Florence for hands up
• 1954 Federal Film Prize for Path to Freedom (best cultural film of the year)
• 1955 Gold film tape (Best Director) for Canaris
• Prix ​​Femina (Paris) for Canaris
• Spanish Critics Association Award for Canaris
• 1956 Silver film tape for Alibi
• 1981 golden gong for special department K1 , together with Martin Boettcher and Harald Vock

Filmography

• 1941: Soldiers of tomorrow (report on training branches of the Hitler Youth )
• 1941: Out of danger (report about the deportation to Kinderland )
• 1942: hands up!
• 1944: Young eagles
• 1945: The tavern for eternal love (unfinished)
• 1949: We stroll around the world
• 1953: Way to freedom
• 1953: me and you
• 1954: Canaris
• 1955: Heaven is never sold out
• 1955: Alibi
• 1956: Kitty and the big world
• 1957: The Star of Africa
• 1958: Scampolo
• 1958: As long as the heart beats
• 1959: Buddenbrooks (two-part)
• 1960: boomerang
• 1960: On holy waters
• 1961: Julia, you are magical
• 1962: I'm only a woman too
• 1963: The great love game
• 1964: Doomed to sin
• 1965: Shots every 3/4
• 1965: The gentlemen - 5th episode: The citizens
• 1965: The love carousel - 3rd episode: Dorothea
• 1966: I'm looking for a man
• 1966: Maigret and his greatest case
• 1970: Under the roofs of St. Pauli
• 1971: The brothel
• 1972: A woman remains a woman (1)
• 1973: ... but Jonny!
• 1973: A woman remains a woman (2)
• 1975: Derrick : Death on the railroad track
• 1975: Derrick: A suitcase from Salzburg
• 1975: Love this way - this way
• 1975: The Commissioner : Murder by the clock
• 1976: Derrick: Calcutta
• 1976: Derrick: The Bordfest
• 1976: Gentle Terror (TV movie)
• 1977: bankruptcy
• 1977: A woman remains a woman (3)
• 1977: The chaste bon vivant
• 1978: The Schimmelreiter
• 1978: Our little world (4 stories)
• 1978: The big carp Ferdinand
• 1978: A woman remains a woman (4)
• 1979: Stories with Martin Held
• 1980: The cards don't lie
• 1980: Derrick: A song from Thebes
• 1981: Special Department K1: The Trail on the River
• 1981: Special Department K1: The revenge of an undercover agent
• 1981: The old man : The attack
• 1982: Derrick: house music
• 1982: Our Most Beautiful Years (4th episode)
• 1983: Our Most Beautiful Years (6th episode)
• 1983: Derrick: The Dead in the Isar
• 1984: Derrick: Not a nice trip to Rome
• 1984: Man without a ticket
• 1986: The old man: wanted killer
• 1986: Derrick: The Weidau case
• 1986: Derrick: The Role of His Life
• 1987: who shot Boro?
• 1987: a diabolical plan
• 1988: Derrick: No risk
• 1988: Derrick: The Druse Mordache
• 1988: The old man: the acquittal
• 1988: The Old One: A very common murder
• 1989: Derrick: Diebach's wife
• 1990: Derrick: The Moment of Truth
• 1990: The old man: as good as dead
• 1991: Derrick: Caprese in the city
• 1991: The Old One: The Diary Murder
• 1992: Derrick: The trip to Munich
• 1992: Derrick: The festive menus of Mr. Borgelt
• 1993: Derrick: Man in the Rain
• 1993: Derrick: Melody of Death
• 1994: Derrick: The Subject
• 1994: Derrick: A terminus
• 1994: The old man: Disappeared ... and not missing
• 1994: Derrick: Dinner with Bruno
• 1995: Derrick: A Murder, Part Two
• 1995: Derrick: Tea time with a murderess?
• 1995: Derrick: A Man's Heart
• 1995: Derrick: Mr Widanje has bad dreams
• 1996: Derrick: Have a nice day, murderer!
• 1996: Derrick: The Dark Light
• 1997: Derrick: Lost Place
• 1998: Derrick: Mama Kaputtke
• 1999: The old man: the second woman

Youth books (selection)

• Young train 2nd Loewe, Stuttgart 1936.
• Trupp Plassen. Loewe, Stuttgart 1937. (= boys on duty; 2).
• Gunner Brakke No. 2. Loewe, Stuttgart 1938. (= boys on duty; 3).
• Jakko. Loewe, Stuttgart 1939. ( filmed by Fritz Peter Buch in 1941 ).
• Jaguar company. Deeds of the armored weapon in Poland. Series: War Library of the German Youth, 8. Steiniger Verlage, Berlin 1940 (as Derfla).
• Young Europe. Loewe, Stuttgart 1940.
• Young Greece. 1940.
• Young Italy. Loewe, Stuttgart 1940.
• Young Portugal. 1940.
• Young Spain. 1940.
• Tadpole, boss of the newsboy. 1951.
• Winnetou junior flies to Berlin. 1952.
• Tadpole and the counterfeiters. 1953.
• Luggage receipt 666. Loewe, Stuttgart 1953. ( Filmed in 1961 by Theo Mezger ).
• The fifty from the evening paper. 1960. (Summary of the two tadpole books).
• All of Pollau is upside down. 1961.
• The stowaway. Loewes, Bayreuth 1968.
• The Magnificent 7 and the puzzling art theft. Loewes, Bindlach 1972 (new edition 1994), ISBN 3-7855-2702-0 .
• The yellow glove. Loewes, Bayreuth 1974, ISBN 3-7855-1679-7 .
• The Magnificent 7 and the Boy from the Sea. Loewes, Bayreuth 1976. ISBN 3-7855-1712-2 .
• The Magnificent 7 and the Secret of the Green Mask. Loewes, Bayreuth 1976. ISBN 3-7855-1741-6 .
• The Magnificent 7 and the Chief's Son. Loewes, Bayreuth 1979. ISBN 3-7855-1808-0 .
• The Magnificent 7 and the Double Key. Loewes, Bayreuth 1981. ISBN 3-7855-1858-7 .
• The Magnificent 7 and the Scary House , special edition. Loewe, Bindlach 1986. ISBN 3-7855-2048-4 .
• Big fish - little crooks. The great Alfred Weidenmann book. Loewes, Bayreuth 1982. ISBN 3-7855-1906-0 .
• The trail leads to Tahiti. Loewe, Bindlach 1995. ISBN 3-7855-2739-X .

Web links

• Literature by and about Alfred Weidenmann in the catalog of the German National Library
• Alfred Weidenmann in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Alfred Weidenmann at filmportal.de
• Short biography of Alfred Weidenmann in the Deutsches Filmhaus

Individual evidence

1. ^ Ernst Klee : The culture lexicon for the Third Reich. Who was what before and after 1945. S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2007, ISBN 978-3-10-039326-5 , p. 650; Filmportal.de ; German National Library .
2. ↑ "Alfred" read backwards, "W." for Weidenmann.
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Ernst Klee: The cultural lexicon for the Third Reich. Who was what before and after 1945. S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2007, p. 650.
4. ↑ polunbi.de or polunbi.de
5. ↑ Jörg Weigand: Nazi propagandist, author of children's books and “Buddenbrooks” director. Alfred Weidenmann (1918–2000), winner of the Federal Film Prize and the “Prix Femina” . In: JMS report . August 2009.