Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina –

"Acontece que no es poco | Marlene Dietrich: alemana, pero no nazi"

Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: February 17, 2025
Platform: SER Podcast

Overview

This episode of "Acontece que no es poco" dives deep into the complex and courageous life of Marlene Dietrich, the legendary German actress and singer. Nieves Concostrina tells the story of how Dietrich, though born German, actively opposed the Nazi regime, renounced her nationality, became a U.S. citizen, and risked everything to support the Allied troops during WWII. The episode explores her legacy, the political significance of her art (especially the song "Lili Marlene"), and Germany’s long path to reconciling with her memory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Politics of "Lili Marlene"

• Radio and Propaganda: The episode begins by connecting Dietrich’s story to the radio’s role in WWII. Concostrina explains how "Lili Marlene" became an emblematic song for soldiers on both sides of the war, gaining popularity through Radio Belgrade, which was taken over by the Nazis ([01:09], [03:00]).
  • "Radio Belgrado llegaba a casi toda Europa... uno de los soldados encargados de la emisora compró en Viena una pila de discos... Entre esos discos estaba la canción de Lale Andersen, Lili Marlene, que programaban todas las noches machaconamente..." – Nieves ([01:09])
• Goebbels' Concern: Joseph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda chief, tried to ban the song for being too melancholy, fearing it would sap the morale of German soldiers. Requests from the soldiers—and even General Rommel—forced its reinstatement ([03:46]).
  • "Goebbels... ordenó que la canción no se programara más. Muchos soldados escribieron a la emisora diciendo que dónde estaba Lili Marlene..." – Nieves ([03:46])
• Adoption by Allies: The song crossed enemy lines. The Allies, recognizing its symbolic power, had Marlene Dietrich herself record it, turning it into an anthem for both sides ([04:55]).
  • "Lili Marlene acabó siendo el himno de los soldados nazis y de los soldados aliados, para gran cabreo de Goebbels." – Nieves ([04:55])

2. Marlene Dietrich’s Anti-Nazi Stance

• Renouncing Germany and Becoming American: Dietrich formally rejected her German nationality to become an American citizen in 1939, at the very onset of WWII, in an open act of defiance against the Nazi regime ([05:25]).
  • "Goebbels le recordó... llegó a ponerle delante un cheque en blanco para que volviera. La respuesta de Marlene Dietrich... fue solicitar la nacionalidad estadounidense en 1939." – Nieves ([05:25])
• Personal Sacrifice: Dietrich faced personal and family hardship due to this choice. Her daughter, Maria Riva, recounted how Dietrich announced her break with Germany while fighting back tears ([05:58]).
  • “Marlene siempre dijo que su decisión de hacerse ciudadana de Estados Unidos se debió a una lucha personal contra los nazis y no contra sus compatriotas. Lo hice por un sentido de decencia... Yo no odio a los alemanes, odio a los nazis.” – Nieves, quoting Dietrich ([06:47])

3. Artistic Resistance on the Front Lines

• Entertaining Allied Troops: Dietrich went further than symbolic opposition: she toured dangerous battlefronts—North Africa, Italy, France, the Battle of the Bulge—singing for Allied soldiers, often mere meters from enemy lines ([07:12]).
  • “Marlene hacía dos espectáculos al día... dormía donde dormían todos y curraba como una bestia... hasta en plena batalla de las Ardenas...” – Nieves ([07:12])
• Her Talents: Beyond singing, Dietrich played the violin and even the musical saw ("el serrucho"), showcasing her wide-ranging artistic abilities ([08:13]).
  • "Tocaba el violín y el serrucho. Y a veces... tocaba los dos a la vez." – Nieves ([08:13])
• Risk and Recognition: Posthumously, German authorities still punished her memory for her anti-Nazi activism, reflecting the depth of postwar resentment ([09:12]).

4. Postwar Legacy and German Reconciliation

• Cold Reception in Germany: In 1992, after Dietrich’s death in Paris at 90, her remains were returned to Berlin. Official tributes were minimal, and intended homages were poorly attended or canceled ([09:41]–[11:01]).
  • “Berlín en concreto preparó unos funerales de mala gana... el acto tuvo que anularse y Marlene se quedó sin homenaje.” – Nieves ([11:01])
• Political and Personal Causes: Nieves points out political reasons for this neglect, including Dietrich’s atheism and the lingering presence of conservative, nationalist sentiment in reunified Germany ([11:03]–[12:14]), likening Germany’s incomplete process to Spain’s lack of post-Franco reckoning.
• Patriotism Critique: The host offers a memorable, sharp commentary on patriotism and its dangers.
  • "Los patriotas dan mucho asco. Así en general. El patriotismo es, como dicen que dijo el escritor inglés Samuel Johnson, ya sabes, el último refugio de un canalla." – Nieves ([12:13])
• Final Reconciliation: It wasn't until 2002, a decade after her passing, that Berlin officially declared Dietrich a citizen of honor and recognized her role as an ambassador for democracy ([12:46]).
  • “Tuvieron que pasar 10 años para que Berlín por fin declarase a la actriz ciudadana de honor y se reconciliara con ella…” – Nieves ([12:46])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Decency and Nationality:
  “Lo hice por un sentido de decencia... Yo no odio a los alemanes, odio a los nazis.”
  —Marlene Dietrich (as recalled by Nieves, [06:47])

• On Patriotism:
  “Los patriotas dan mucho asco. Así en general. El patriotismo es, como dicen que dijo el escritor inglés Samuel Johnson, ya sabes, el último refugio de un canalla.”
  —Nieves Concostrina ([12:13])

• Dietrich’s Legacy:
  “Por haber sido embajadora de la democracia y por su amor a una Alemania humana y libre. Era el año 2002 y Marlene entonces sí, descansó en paz.”
  —Nieves Concostrina ([12:46])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• The historical role of "Lili Marlene": [01:09] – [04:55]
• Dietrich renounces Germany and Nazi bribes: [05:25] – [06:47]
• Dietrich’s activism on the front lines: [07:12] – [09:12]
• Germany’s cold farewell and Dietrich’s funeral: [09:41] – [11:01]
• Reflections on patriotism and legacy: [12:13] – [12:46]
• Official reconciliation, city honors, and Dietrich’s grave: [12:46] – [13:53]

Final Notes

The episode, rich in both historical detail and personal narrative, highlights the enduring courage and integrity of Marlene Dietrich, whose artistry and activism made her an international symbol of anti-Nazi resistance. It also calls attention to the slow, sometimes reluctant process by which societies reckon with both their complicities and their heroes. The tone is characteristically direct, reflective, and occasionally acerbic, in keeping with Nieves Concostrina’s storytelling style.

For visitors:
If you wish to visit Marlene Dietrich’s grave, it is located in the cemeterio de Friedenau, sección 34, parcela 363, in Berlin ([12:46]).