Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956

Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 with two songs: "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}",Template:Efn written and performed by Walter Andreas Schwarz; and "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}", composed by Lotar Olias, with lyrics by Template:Ill, and performed by Freddy Quinn. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Template:Ill (NWRV), organised a national final to determine their two entries for the contest.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" 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.<ref name="Diamond" /> Following the formation of the EBU, a number of notable events were transmitted through its networks in various European countries, such as Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.<ref name="Diamond" /> Following this series of transmissions, a "Programme Committee" was set up within the EBU to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters.<ref name=":13" /> The new European contest was subsequently approved at the EBU's General Assembly in October 1955.<ref name=":13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Diamond">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A planning sub-group, was subsequently formed to build out the rules of the competition.<ref name="Roxburgh">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="decade">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Venice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The rules of the contest were finalised and distributed to EBU members in early 1956.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Per the rules of the contest, each participating broadcaster submitted two songs into the contest.<ref name="reglement">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite journal</ref> Germany was subsequently included on the EBU's list of seven countries whose broadcasters had signed up to partake in the contest.<ref name="reglement"/> For the 1956 contest, NWRV held a national final to choose two German entries.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>

Before Eurovision

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.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> It took place on 1 May 1956 at 20:00 CET (19:00 UTC) at the Großer Sendesaal of Template:Ill in Cologne and was broadcast on Deutsches Fernsehen.<ref name=":3" /> Initially, the final was planned to be held in Hamburg.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was produced by Template:Ill (NWRV), a cooperation of NDR and WDR, and directed by Template:Ill.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> The presenter was Template:Ill.<ref name=":0" /> 13 songs took part in the national final.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref> The participants were chosen upon invitation from NWRV and other ARD broadcasters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":12" />

Initial plans foresaw that each ARD broadcaster submitted two songs and two artists for the national final until 1 February 1956.<ref name=":12" />

In April 1956, several listings magazines finally announced a list of 11 performers who should sing the competing compositions:<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> Lys Assia (nominated by SDR), Eva Busch (SWF), Angèle Durand, Margot Eskens (SFB), Template:Ill (NWRV), Margot Hielscher (BR), Bibi Johns (SDR), Rolf Baro (Radio Bremen), Walter Andreas Schwarz (HR), Template:Ill, and Template:Ill (NWRV).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":12" /> Freddy Quinn was not part of the announced list.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /> The periodical fff-press later reported that "a large number of the artists that had been announced weren't present."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Press reports published after the national final confirmed the participation of Friedel Hensch und die Cyprys,<ref name=":7" /> Walter Andreas Schwarz,<ref name=":6" /> Template:Ill (nominated by SWF, and not part of the initial list),<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":12" /> as well as of Lys Assia.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":9" /> By the time the national final took place, Lys Assia had already been selected to represent Switzerland at Eurovision.<ref name=":0" /> In contrast, Margot Hielscher stated that, according to her documents, she was not in Cologne on 1 May 1956 but in Berlin for filming.<ref name=":0" />

The artists were accompanied by the WDR Tanz- und Unterhaltungsorchester under the direction of Template:Ill.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> The running order was to be drawn by lot with director Template:Ill being able to overrule the order in case of imbalances.<ref name=":12" /> The running order as well as the titles of the participating songs are not known for a few exceptions: "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" was presented under the title "Das Lied vom großen Glück" in the national final.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":8">Template:Cite book</ref> A song titled "Ich bin so unmusikalisch" reportedly took part.<ref name=":7" /> Lys Assia performed her song 13th (and last) in the running order.<ref name=":7" /> There was a rumour that she sang the song "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" in the national final.<ref name=":8" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, this turned out to be incorrect, as she competed with this song in the Template:Ill.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Three French-speaking acts, among them Les Compagnons du zodiaque and Annie Cordy, singing in both German and French, were the interval acts.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite news</ref>

A jury, which was watching the songs in a separate room on TV screens, decided the winning songs.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> The jury was composed by members of the general public with each ARD broadcaster sending one juror.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":12" /> It seems that the selection took place in two rounds, with a superfinal confronting a few songs chosen among the 13 entries from the first round.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite journal</ref>

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 Template:Ill and Lotar Olias (second).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":10" /> The songwriters of the winning entries were only revealed after the results.<ref name=":9" /> A trophy, which consisted of a transparent box filled with orchids, was given to the first place.<ref name=":6" /> The full results of the national final are not known. The song sung by Melitta Berg was reported to have finished in third place.<ref name=":6" />

National final – 1 May 1956<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />

Place	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)
1	Walter Andreas Schwarz	"Das Lied vom großen Glück"	Walter Andreas Schwarz
2	Freddy Quinn	"So geht das jede Nacht"	Template:Hlist
3	Template:Ill	Template:N/A	Template:N/A

There have been speculations about whether the national final actually took place: Despite the fact that the show appeared in listings magazines, none of the named participants could recall having taken part in the national final.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> However, reviews and articles about the national final were published in several German print media after the final, including Süddeutsche Zeitung, Quick and Template:Ill, giving details about the jury and the winning songs.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=":14">Template:Cite book</ref> Freddy Quinn was an Austrian national with an American father and sung his entry in rock'n'roll style.<ref name=":14" /> The first two German entrants, Walter Andreas Schwarz and Freddy Quinn, have therefore been interpreted as "cosmopolitan representatives of a West Germany that was distancing itself from its Nazi past and embracing an Americanized present."<ref name=":14" />

At Eurovision

Eurovision Song Contest 1956 took place at the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956.<ref name="Roxburgh" /> "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" was, like in the national final, presented under the title "Das Lied vom großen Glück".<ref name="contestAV">Template:Cite AV media</ref> It was performed fourth and "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" was performed eleventh in the running order, both following Belgium and preceding France's two songs.<ref name="Roxburgh" /> Both of the German entries were conducted at the contest by Fernando Paggi.<ref name="Roxburgh" />

Neither of the German songs won the contest, and the full results were not revealed and have not been retained by the EBU.<ref name="ESC1956">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the German national final of 1982, co-presenter Template:Ill claimed that "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" had come second.<ref name="1982de">Template:Cite AV media</ref> Though the full results have never been made public, the claim has been repeated several times since.<ref name="Hessen drei dabei">Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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