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Lili Marlene: The Soldiers' Song of World War II
The dramatic story of an iconic love song, its three creators, and their lives under the Nazis. "Lili Marlene," the unlikely anthem of World War II, cut across front lines and ideological divides, uniting soldiers across the globe. This love song, telling the story of a young woman waiting for her lover to return from the battlefield, began as a poem written by a German solider during World War I. The soldier-poet's words found their way to Berlin's decadent cabaret scene in the 1930s, where they were set to music by one of Hitler's favored composers. The song's singer, however, soon found herself torn between her desire for fame and a personal hatred of the Nazi regime. In a gripping and suspenseful narrative, the three artists' remarkable stories of arrests and close calls intertwine with the recollections of soldiers on all sides who fought their way through deserts and towns, seeking solace and finding hope in "Lili Marlene." 13
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2008
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Liel Leibovitz
16 books29 followersLiel Leibovitz is a senior writer for Tablet magazine and teaches at New York University. He is the coauthor of Fortunate Sons, Lili Marlene, and The Chosen Peoples. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 2, 2011
Compelling, immensely readable look at the history of "Lili Marlene," the international hit song of WWII. Why a song becomes popular at a certain point in time is always a mystery but a fascinating one and Leibovitz, the author, is completely up to the task here, providing the story's minute historical details in a beautifully accessible writing style. Background information on the war is provided, not regarding the entire conflict, but only the sections that immediately intersect the song's creation and meteoric rise in popularity.
December 4, 2008
A sentimental favorite, but truly an amazing read. Incredibly insightful to see a connection between the young men that fought on both sides of the War. I happen to be related to a minor figure in the book, a friend of Lale Andersen!
March 19, 2010
A fascinating niche of the war, the song of soldiers in the West,
however this book reads like a college thesis. After grading,
someone had an idea, hey I know somebody who will
publish this and indeed, they did.
There are several gaps of information where the authors lead up
to an event, but not the result, the most striking example is
that no where in the book are the complete lyrics of 'Lili' provided,
in English or German!
Another such example is when the young songwriter Leip wins a
career defining song writing contest, there is no follow up on
what it is he wrote.
At times the book is incongruous at best; military events are
used as bland filler, plugged in from other attributed sources,
and don't add much to the story, that is unless you've never
heard of World War II. At one point they oddly assign 'Talmudic'
logic to a German officer's decisions.
Occasionally mere rumors of events are discussed, and the
authors let you know they are rumors, so they are being
honest, but it often appears they need make a page count.
There's a good story in here if you can boil it down,
the interwoven tale of singer, songwriter and composer
are interesting.
We would sing 'Lili' in German class. Rather than imagine that,
go to youtube sometime and you can find the postwar Lale Andersen
singing her signature song. Pretend the stars of the North African
night are overhead, the clock ticks towards 9:57 PM, you're tuned
to Radio Belgrade, can you listen just once?
however this book reads like a college thesis. After grading,
someone had an idea, hey I know somebody who will
publish this and indeed, they did.
There are several gaps of information where the authors lead up
to an event, but not the result, the most striking example is
that no where in the book are the complete lyrics of 'Lili' provided,
in English or German!
Another such example is when the young songwriter Leip wins a
career defining song writing contest, there is no follow up on
what it is he wrote.
At times the book is incongruous at best; military events are
used as bland filler, plugged in from other attributed sources,
and don't add much to the story, that is unless you've never
heard of World War II. At one point they oddly assign 'Talmudic'
logic to a German officer's decisions.
Occasionally mere rumors of events are discussed, and the
authors let you know they are rumors, so they are being
honest, but it often appears they need make a page count.
There's a good story in here if you can boil it down,
the interwoven tale of singer, songwriter and composer
are interesting.
We would sing 'Lili' in German class. Rather than imagine that,
go to youtube sometime and you can find the postwar Lale Andersen
singing her signature song. Pretend the stars of the North African
night are overhead, the clock ticks towards 9:57 PM, you're tuned
to Radio Belgrade, can you listen just once?
September 19, 2015
An interesting story, but it gets bogged down in the writing. While some background history is obviously required for the non-expert to understand, I skimmed over much of this.
Also, through no fault of the authors, it's hard to really relate to a song without having a way to hear it. Perhaps if the publisher had created some kind of related website where readers could hear the song, see photos, grave markers, etc. it would have been a nice touch.
This is an innovative concept for a book. A lot more could have been done with it via technology to make it truly a multi-media text.
Also, through no fault of the authors, it's hard to really relate to a song without having a way to hear it. Perhaps if the publisher had created some kind of related website where readers could hear the song, see photos, grave markers, etc. it would have been a nice touch.
This is an innovative concept for a book. A lot more could have been done with it via technology to make it truly a multi-media text.
April 23, 2018
Fascinating snapshot of a corner of WW1 and WW2 history.
December 28, 2023
Music is powerful
January 25, 2015
The songs that soldiers love aren't the patriotic songs sung on the home front; they're the sentimental ones recalling home and family. What "Home Sweet Home" and "Tenting Tonight" were for Johnny Reb and Billy Yank, "Lili Marlene" was for soldiers of both sides in World War II Europe and North Africa. Sadly, as the WWII veterans pass on, so too may Lili, relegated to a trunk of historical oddities in the public mind. The authors write well enough of the song's origins and the careers of the composers and singer, and the book is a light read. Unfortunately, as mentioned below, there aren't complete lyrics or a detailed description of how it was performed or in what tempo. Someone who buys the book will likely know--the "historical oddity" again--but I wish it somewhere could refer a reader to a website of the song, which in its original version (Lale Andersen's) melds sentiment and march. Still, a websearch will find it. The book uses a new style of footnoting; is a superscript in the text so prohibitively expensive? Worth a read for those interested in the soldiers of WWII and their music.
October 4, 2012
Events, both global and personal, are presented within the frame of one uber popular song: Lili Marlene. The song is the primary subject of the book. Lale Andersen, the vocalist, is the secondary subject.
In Germany, from the end of World War I through the second war, economics, culture and politics tore through the German art scene like shifting storms.
Andersen's story showed what life was like for many artists during these trying times. Her plight under the thumb of Reich Culture Governor, Hans Hinkel was nightmarish.
The story and concept were interesting, even though the delivery was not super engaging. The inexplicable magnetism of the song for troops from so many nations is intriguing.
In Germany, from the end of World War I through the second war, economics, culture and politics tore through the German art scene like shifting storms.
Andersen's story showed what life was like for many artists during these trying times. Her plight under the thumb of Reich Culture Governor, Hans Hinkel was nightmarish.
The story and concept were interesting, even though the delivery was not super engaging. The inexplicable magnetism of the song for troops from so many nations is intriguing.
May 6, 2009
Who would ever have guessed that a poem written by a love struck soldier in WW I would have made such an impact on the lives of soldiers during WW II--on both sides?
A beautifully written little book that is rich with the history of that sad era. The soldiers who listened to Radio Belgrade each evening at 9:57 PM would, for a few minutes, forget the harsh reality of the war and be taken to an Eden that was Lili Marlene.
The book is a must for those who know the song, are interested in the era and adhere to the addage that, "the pen is mightier than the sword." Lili Marlene certainly proves the point.
A beautifully written little book that is rich with the history of that sad era. The soldiers who listened to Radio Belgrade each evening at 9:57 PM would, for a few minutes, forget the harsh reality of the war and be taken to an Eden that was Lili Marlene.
The book is a must for those who know the song, are interested in the era and adhere to the addage that, "the pen is mightier than the sword." Lili Marlene certainly proves the point.
July 30, 2013
I saw this book on a vacation in late May. My wife gave it to me for Fathers' Day. It was an easy book to read and very interesting. There were a few "slow" spots in the book but the author did a nice job keeping my interest. The books describes the lives of the author of lyrics, the composer of the music, and the singer. Their lives and experiences with the two World Wars, the Nazi regime, are all described in detail.
December 27, 2018
The book is, yes, about the beloved song "Lili Marlene" but also about the lives of composer Hans Leip and the singer who made it famous (Lale Anderson), the Nazis' use of it as a vehicle for punishing Lale especially, the concessions made by Goebbels when he realized the song's impact on even German soldiers, despite his best efforts to prevent that, and many other twists and turns as the song makes its way through time, remaining popular even today. A good read.
July 27, 2013
Interesting. I understand its a whole book about one piece of history, but still not sure that it had that big of an effect on things as the authors stress given that I'd never hear about it in any context of WWII previously. Not that I'm an expect but just in general conversations everyone has been surprised.
Currently reading
January 6, 2010Fascinating story about a song from World War II.
July 27, 2011
really interesting background about the ww2 song -- and some helpful history too. Well written and researched.
August 17, 2013
A little padded and repetitive, but an interesting read. Although mostly about a singer and a song, it described life I under the Third Reich very well.
November 12, 2016
This was very engaging, a must read if your mother was named after the song. Mine was.
Also provides a creepy angle into WWII via Lale Andersen's bio and relationship to the song.
Also provides a creepy angle into WWII via Lale Andersen's bio and relationship to the song.
November 23, 2011
A good book of not only the "Soldiers Song" but window on the times.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews