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Author’s note: I woke up this morning to two images — one of a young German supporter of the AfD giving a Nazi salute on livestream; the second was of an AfD politician with my same last name, clout chasing on X/Twitter by tweeting at Elon Musk, who cheerily responded. As much as I wanted to rage against the Twitter machine, instead, I am choosing to celebrate an avowed anti-fascist by offering this 2-minute history essay on Marlene Dietrich, who chose to oppose Nazis “out of decency.”—hsc
Bette’s 2-Minute History: Marlene Dietrich Anti-Fascist
‘Aus Andstand’ (Out of Decency)
During the rise of fascism in Germany, Marlene Dietrich was living in America, where she was already a celebrated film star. After her 1929 breakthrough in the Josef von Sternberg film, “Der Blaue Engel,” she earned a contract with Paramount Pictures. In 1930, she moved from Berlin to Hollywood where she made a series of hit films.
After the Nazis seized power, she received multiple offers from the Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels and other party leaders - including a personal plea from Hitler - to return to Germany. The Nazis promised her financial incentives, creative control, and guaranteed stardom as an icon of Third Reich, but Dietrich rebuked all their offers. She was passionately anti-fascist.
In 1937, she donated her salary from the British historical drama “Knight Without Armour” to help a relief fund that supported Jewish refugees and dissidents who were forced to flee Europe. In 1939, she renounced her German citizenship and became a US citizen.
During World War II, she recorded anti-Nazi songs for the US Office of Strategic Services’ Morale Operations Branch (OSS MO), which used her recorded albums as propaganda to demoralize German soldiers.
She was one of the first celebrities to sell war bonds, and according to the Library of Congress:
“Marlene Dietrich made two overseas USO tours. The first was to North Africa and Italy, where she became the first entertainer to reach rescued soldiers at Anzio. During her second tour, lasting 11 months, she entertained near the front in France and Germany.”
Ultimately, she travelled to Algeria, France, Italy, and Germany to sing for the Allied troops.
The National Women’s History Museum notes that “often these tours were made under difficult and dangerous conditions. In some instances, Dietrich performed without power, slept in tents, and worked very close to the frontline.”
When asked on a USO tour why she chose to endanger her life, she responded: “Aus Anstand.”
Out of decency.
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More from Bette’s 2-minute history series here:
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Heidi,
Thank you so much for your beautiful writing! Marlene Dietrich is an inspiring person, and we need more like her.
Andstand/decency is sorely lacking in today’s public life and most politicians. It is a trait I will search for in my public servants, and I will vote for those who show it to a great degree.
No idea who will run for President for the Democrats the next time. Luckily, we have quite a few possible candidates who show this trait to a great degree.
I am thinking of Stacey Abrams, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Kelly, Jon Ossoff, Tim Walz, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, Raphael Warnock, Richard Blumenthal … all appear thoroughly decent.
What do you think, Heidi? Who is on your imaginary A-list?