100th birthday of Hans Leib - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1993 - 100 Pfennig

The poet and painter Hans Leip was born on September 22, 1893 in Hamburg. Even as a student he wrote poems, the first of which were printed in 1910. At Easter 1914 he began his own teaching, from which he was torn by the war in November 1914. He came to the Gardefüsilieren in Berlin. Shortly before leaving for the Carpathians, Hans Leip wrote the farewell and love poem »Lili Marleen«, which he did not publish until 1937 in his book of poems »The Little Harbor Organ«. Norbert Schultze set it to music in 1938, and Lale Andersen sang it. The soldier station Belgrade broadcast it from 1941, and it became so famous that it not only wanted to hear and sing the German soldiers, but that - translated into their native language - it became the home of all soldiers. An accident at the end of April 1915 finally meant dismissal as a soldier for Hans Leip. He became a teacher again in 1916, but gave up his job after a few years to work as a freelance artist. He had previously written art reviews for newspapers, but now turned his own graphic too. He provided his narrative volumes, which had already been published in 1920, with pen drawings and woodcuts, and other books with lithographs. In his first novel, Der Pfuhl, he gave an expressionist, fantastic picture of his native city. However, he only made his breakthrough with "Godekes Knecht", an eloquent depiction of buccaneers around 1400. In a competition, this work was honored by a demanding jury, to which Thomas Mann also belonged. The twenties were also the time of the artist festivals. Hans Leip often belonged to the festival committee, published the artistic almanac or participated in it with pictures and text contributions. Worth mentioning are the "Almanac of the idol", "The silver-green junk" and "The bridge Tuledu". The enchanting, restrained love story "Jan Himp and the Little Breeze" stands out from the often self-illustrated stories and novels that have been published in the episode, always in a good mood and also as a film. In his novels "Das Muschelhorn" and "But Liebe", Hans Leip tells of fates and people already known from "Godekes Knecht". Hamburg, the river, the "World Ferry Route", the Elbe, play their part. Nevertheless, Hans Leip must not be seen as a homeland poet. The "Log Book of Satan" and "The Great River in the Sea" are non-fiction books, albeit in poetic language. The comedy »Idothea« was first performed in 1942 by Hilpert at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin with Anna Dammann in the leading role, but was soon banned by Goebbels. In addition, Hans Leip has written many radio plays and film scripts. However, his poetry is also remarkable. In addition to the more popular "port organ" poems, he has created in his statement generally valid works in new forms of poetry, the "cadences" and "pentamen," whatever level of human experience they may appeal to. The poem "Song in the Rubble", written after the air raids on Hamburg in July 1943, applies to every ruined city and is one of the most shocking testimonies of the war in German. In the last years of his life, Hans Leip, who has since been honored with the honorary title Professor, turned his attention mainly to painting and thus returned to the beginnings of his art. His autobiography, The Dance Wheel or The Pleasure and Effort of Existence (1979), richly endowed with 179 images, was his last great work. On the morning of June 6, 1983, he fell asleep peacefully at his home in Fruthwilen. (Text: Hans-Leip-Gesellschaft, Hamburg)