Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 with two songs: "", written and performed by Walter Andreas Schwarz; and "", composed by Lotar Olias, with lyrics by , and performed by Freddy Quinn. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, (NWRV), organised a national final to determine their two entries for the contest. "" was the first-ever entry from Germany performed in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Background

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was formed in 1950 among 23 organisations with the aim of the exchange of television programmes. A planning sub-group, was subsequently formed to build out the rules of the competition. The rules of the contest were finalised and distributed to EBU members in early 1956. Per the rules of the contest, each participating broadcaster submitted two songs into the contest. During a meeting held on 27 and 28 October 1955, the television program directors of the German broadcasting corporation ARD decided to participate in the contest and to organise a national final. Germany was subsequently included on the EBU's list of seven countries whose broadcasters had signed up to partake in the contest.

Before Eurovision

thumb|upright|Freddy Quinn (pictured in 1977) was selected along with Walter Andreas Schwarz to represent Germany in 1956

Grand Prix 1956 Eurovision – Schlager und Chansons

"Grand Prix 1956 Eurovision" – Schlager und Chansons was the national final held to determine the two songs that should represent Germany. It took place on 1 May 1956 at 20:00 CET (19:00 UTC) at the Großer Sendesaal of in Cologne and was broadcast on Deutsches Fernsehen. It was produced by (NWRV), a cooperation of NDR and WDR, and directed by . The participants were chosen upon invitation from NWRV and other ARD broadcasters. Lys Assia (nominated by SDR), Eva Busch (SWF), Angèle Durand, Margot Eskens (SFB), (NWRV), Margot Hielscher (BR), Bibi Johns (SDR), Rolf Baro (Radio Bremen), Walter Andreas Schwarz (HR), , and (NWRV). Press reports published after the national final confirmed the participation of Friedel Hensch und die Cyprys, A song titled "Ich bin so unmusikalisch" reportedly took part. However, this turned out to be incorrect, as she competed with this song in the .

Three French-speaking acts, among them Les Compagnons du zodiaque and Annie Cordy, singing in both German and French, were the interval acts.

A jury, which was watching the songs in a separate room on TV screens, decided the winning songs. The jury was composed by members of the general public with each ARD broadcaster sending one juror.

The first two places were selected to represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano: "Das Lied vom großen Glück", written by Walter Andreas Schwarz (first place), and "So geht das jede Nacht", written by and Lotar Olias (second).

Walter Andreas Schwarz, of Jewish origins, was a survivor of the concentration camps and had been working as an announcer for the BBC after World War II. Freddy Quinn was an Austrian national with an American father and sung his entry in rock'n'roll style. It was performed fourth and "" was performed eleventh in the running order, both following Belgium and preceding France's two songs. In the German national final of 1982, co-presenter claimed that "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" had come second. Though the full results have never been made public, the claim has been repeated several times since.

Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was televised in Germany on Deutsches Fernsehen with commentary provided by Irene Koss. It was also broadcast live on Radio Bremen 2. Excerpts from the final in Lugano were broadcast on radio on 18 June 1956 at 23:00 CET, and on Radio München on 30 June 1956 at 20:15 CET.

Notes

References

  • "Der erste deutsche Grand-Prixteilnehmer" – radio interview from October 1956 with Walter Andreas Schwarz on his Eurovision participation (in German)