Waldemar Reichhard

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Statue of the "Garlic King"
Waldemar Reichhardt's tomb in the Wiesbaden south cemetery
Tomb in the Wiesbaden south cemetery

Waldemar Reichhard (* 1915 in Steglitz ; † August 25, 1988 in Wiesbaden ), also Reichard , Reichardt , called "Knoblauchkönig" or just "Knobloch", was a German opera singer and Wiesbaden original . It got its nickname because of the abundant consumption of garlic , which made it an olfactory conspicuity from afar .

Life

Waldemar Reichhard moved to Wiesbaden with his parents in 1928. Originally he wanted to become a draftsman, but after visiting the opera he made the decision to become a singer. He then graduated from the Mainz University of Music and received his first engagement as a bass baritone at the Aschaffenburg Theater after the war . His extensive garlic consumption prevented (according to his own statement) a career as a singer. In recent years he has lived in the Salvation Army men's dormitory and received social assistance.

Whether in cool weather or summer temperatures - the Wiesbaden original usually wore a hat and a short leather coat. He preached passionately in the pedestrian zone about the great effects of garlic. Women were also one of his favorite subjects, although he “did not want to flatter the female sex, but rather condemned it and tried to blame it for all sorts of evils.” He preferred to be at the Tchibo store near Mauritiusplatz . He was not allowed to drink the coffee in the shop because of its strong fumes; it was served to him outside.

After a long stay in hospital, Waldemar Reichhard died at the age of 73 and was buried in the Wiesbaden south cemetery. Town hall spokesman Siegfried Schneider recalled: "A highly intelligent, culturally interested man who enjoyed discussions with people on friendly terms and had a great preference for leek vegetables."

monument

The draft of the "Knoblauchkönig" created by the artist Jacqueline Weigand was realized in 2009 by the Mainz sculptor Reinhold Petermann as a life-size bronze sculpture. On September 26, 2009, Wiesbaden's Lord Mayor Helmut Müller (CDU) unveiled the sculpture in Kleine Schwalbacher Strasse as part of the “City Festival” .

literature

  • Article: The “Garlic King” has died. In: Wiesbadener Kurier Volume 44, No. 201, from August 30, 1988, p. 3.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Pedestrian information about the Wiesbaden original Waldemar Reichardt, called "Knoblauch-König". at the invitation of the Wiesbaden city council, pp. 1–2.
  2. ↑ The “Garlic King” has died. In: Wiesbadener Kurier , August 30, 1988, p. 3.
  3. ↑ Wiesbaden City Festival - Küblböck and pure action in the Frankfurter Rundschau .
  4. ↑ City Festival Wiesbaden - No getting through in the city center in the Frankfurter Rundschau .
personal data
SURNAME Reichhard, Waldemar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Reichard, Waldemar; Reichardt, Waldemar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German opera singer and Wiesbaden city original
DATE OF BIRTH 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Steglitz
DATE OF DEATH August 25, 1988
Place of death Wiesbaden