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1-50 of 83
- Writer
- Producer
Josef Goebbels, the man who almost single-handedly developed the field of propaganda into an art form, would, for a day, be the leader of World War II Germany. Goebbels was born in the German Rhineland to strict Catholic parents. He was short, standing at 5'5", of small stature and thin build, and had a sharp, prominent nose and an oily, sallow complexion. He was rejected by the German army in World War I on the basis of being a cripple, specifically, he had a club foot for which he wore a brace, contracted after a bout of osteomyelitis. After Germany was defeated, Goebbels joined the National Socialist Workers Party, more infamously known as the Nazi party, which opposed the democratic Weimar Republic that had been set up to govern Germany. Because of his impressive oratorical skills and uncanny ability to slant arguments to his view, Goebbels was considered an ideal leader in the Nazi party. It was there that he met Hitler in 1925. Though they both shared a hatred of Jews, Goebbels, a dedicated socialist, initially tried to expel the relatively capitalistic Hitler, who he saw as simply an opportunist. He would change his tune, however, when Hitler rose in rank to become leader. Hitler rewarded Goebbels with a post as Nazi district leader of Berlin, where he would wage year-round political campaigns that eventually drained the organization of virtually all of its funds. He met and married divorcée Magda Quandt around this time. Though their membership grew, the Nazis didn't manage to attract a sizable enough number of voters - especially in Berlin - to attain any kind of legitimate political power, due to both the rebounding German economy and a distrust of the gang of street thugs within the Nazi party called the Sturm Abteilung (SA). However, after the US stock market crashed in 1929, the European economies took a tremendous hit, and the resulting worldwide economic depression hit Germany especially hard. The dire economic straits of many Germans were tailor-made for a demagogue like Hitler, and, slowly, he began to take power; first as Chancellor in 1933, then as Führer in 1934. Goebbels was named minister of entertainment and propaganda, a position that gave him have sole discretion as to what books, magazines, films, radios, newspapers, etc., could print, say, or show. Knowing the media power where the influencing of people was concerned, he searched for a director to place as the head of UFA, Germany's leading film studio. In a famous meeting, he offered the position to respected German director Fritz Lang, who tried to excuse himself by saying that he had Jewish grandparents, to which Goebbels curtly replied, "We will decide who is Jewish!" Lang promptly fled the country and Goebbels settled on a rising female director, Leni Riefenstahl, as the "official" Nazi filmmaker. She directed two documentaries on the party's Nuremburg rallies of 1932 and 1933. The first was disowned by Riefenstahl because of the little time she had to prepare and the fact that it was never shown publicly because the film featured Ernst Röhm, leader of the SA, who along with many SA leaders, was murdered by the Nazi high command when they moved against the SA, just after the film was completed. Their second attempt, on which Goebbels assisted Riefenstahl extensively, is perhaps the most famous propaganda film ever made: Triumph of the Will (1935). It took almost a year to prepare from the miles upon miles of footage shot. It was a success worldwide, but was not particularly popular in Germany at the time. Goebbels then commissioned Riefenstahl to shoot the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which the Nazi leadership assumed would be dominated by German athletes. The Germans did win the total medal counts, but African-American sprinter Jesse Owens shattered the myth of Aryan dominance by winning gold medals in four different events - more than any other competitor - and was idolized by the German crowds.
After World War II broke out, Goebbels was responsible for creating a massive propaganda body of work by the German government, much of which still remains recorded. He was known to use almost anything for propaganda purposes, such as posters from French and German movies with Jewish stars as examples of the "typical Jew." Even when Germany was crumbling in 1945 and the Allies demanded unconditional surrender, Goebbels used that as a motivational tool to demonstrate that every German needed to fight or face destruction.
As Allied forces began to advance toward Germany, a paranoid and rapidly deteriorating Hitler had many of his assistants executed or imprisoned, but Goebbels was given the title of "Defender of Berlin." Hitler committed suicide by gunshot on April 30, leaving Goebbels as the next in command to take over the faltering government, which, by then, controlled only a small part of Berlin. As both Soviet forces on one side and American and British forces on the other closed in on the capital, Goebbels was well aware of the fate he would meet if he were captured alive. On May 1, 1945, he reluctantly endorsed the plan his wife had conjured, which she had communicated to Albert Speer, and permitted her to drug their six children with morphine and proceed to poison them to death through the administration of a cyanide capsule. Later that day, after requesting a moment of privacy with his wife from the onlooking SS soldiers, he shot her in head, as they had also planned, and then took his own life within seconds. Soviet troops, who Goebbels had always boasted would never get to Berlin, found him and his wife partially burnt and unburied outside the Fuhrerbunker. He was survived only by a stepson from Magda's first marriage.- Tanju Bilir was born on 9 August 1991 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is an actor, known for Tatort (1970), Turbo (2024) and German Genius (2023).
- Actress
- Producer
Tiana Pongs was born on November 12, 1979, in Mönchengladbach.
She began a successful international career as a model in 2001. After graduating from high school, she worked in Milan, Paris and New York. Due to the astonishing amount of more than 1,000 ad productions in the span of her career, Tiana Pongs was Germany's leading commercial face. She later pursued acting and relocated to Los Angeles.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Joko Winterscheidt was born on 13 January 1979 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. He is an actor and writer, known for Look Who's Back (2015), Circus Halligalli (2013) and Joko gegen Klaas - Das Duell um die Welt (2012).- Cinematographer
- Producer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Christian Kitscha was born on 4 June 1980 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. Christian is a cinematographer and producer, known for Annette (2021), 55 Steps (2017) and By the Sea (2015).- Actress
- Writer
Petra Schürmann was born on 15 September 1933 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She was an actress and writer, known for Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (1972), Angels of Terror (1971) and Verkehrsgericht (1983). She was married to Gerhard Freund. She died on 13 January 2010 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.- Shakuntala Banerjee was born in 1973 in Rheydt, Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She is a writer, known for Makro (2011), Morgenmagazin (1992) and Wer weiß denn sowas? (2015).
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Monika Treut was born on April 6, 1954 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She is an award-winning director and writer of documentaries and features. Treut is known for Of Girls and Horses (2014) , Kriegerin des Lichts (2001), Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting Identities (1999) She has been teaching film at various universities in the U.S. and served on jurys at international film festivals like Toronto (TIFF); Amsterdam (IDFA) and many others. At Berlin film festival 2017 she's been awarded the Special Teddy for her lifetime achievement.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Susanne Regina Meures was born in 1977 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Susanne Regina is a director and writer, known for Raving Iran (2016), Saudi Runaway (2020) and Girl Gang (2022).- Andreas Schröders was born in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. He is an actor, known for The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008), Charlie's Angels (2019) and Stralsund (2009).
- Writer
- Actor
- Cinematographer
Walter Moers was born on 24 May 1957 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He is a writer and actor, known for Käpt'n Blaubärs Seemannsgarn (1990), Kleines Arschloch (1997) and Leos Freunde (1996).- Additional Crew
- Actress
Sandra Navidi was born on 1 September 1972 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She is an actress, known for Bad Banks (2018), Wall Street Warriors (2006) and The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel (2020).- Nadine Arents was born on 3 February 1982 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. She is an actress, known for Rote Rosen (2006), Lotta in Love (2006) and The Visitor (2013).
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Monty Arnold was born on 26 June 1967 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He is an actor and writer, known for Eine Nacht in Wilhelmsburg (2005), Maybe... Maybe Not (1994) and Der goldene Nazivampir von Absam 2 - Das Geheimnis von Schloß Kottlitz (2008).- Stefanie Bolzen was born in 1973 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Paul Bürks was born on 14 April 1916 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He was an actor, known for Wir bitten zum Tanz (1941), The Serpent's Egg (1977) and Freddy und der Millionär (1961). He died on 23 April 1995 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.- Heinz-Harald Frentzen was born on 18 May 1967 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He has been married to Tanja Frentzen since October 1999. They have three children.
- Marc-André Ter Stegen was born on 30 April 1992 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is an actor, known for LaLiga (1954), UEFA Champions League (1992) and Beko: Eat Like a Pro (2019). He has been married to Daniela Jehle since 17 May 2017.
- Volker Büdts was born on 11 July 1972 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. He is an actor, known for Siegfried (2005), Die Kumpel (2001) and Tatort (1970). He is married to Daniela Wutte. They have two children.
- Ulrike von der Groeben was born on 25 March 1957 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She has been married to Alexander von der Groeben since 12 October 1991. They have two children.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Writer
Franz Doelle was born on 9 November 1883 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He was a composer and writer, known for Enemy at the Gates (2001), Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blüht (1929) and Ich habe im Mai von der Liebe geträumt (1927). He died on 15 March 1965 in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Johanna Bolten was born on 14 December 1980 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She is an actress, known for Sitzriesen an Stehimbissen (2005).
- Costume Designer
- Art Department
- Set Decorator
Andrea Spanier was born on 11 November 1961 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. She is a costume designer and set decorator, known for Tatort (1970), V8 - Du willst der Beste sein (2013) and Die Wilden Kerle 5 (2008).- Actor
- Producer
Gero Nievelstein was born on 29 April 1969 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He is an actor and producer, known for Noahs Flut (2015), Tödliche Wahl (1995) and Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei (1996).- Bert Stevens was born on 18 February 1951 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is an actor, known for Barschel: A Murder in Geneva (1993), Kleinstadtbahnhof (1972) and Unter uns (1994).
- Richard Lauffen was born on 2 June 1907 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He was an actor, known for The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959), Timm Thaler (1979) and The Indian Tomb (1959). He was married to Elisabeth Wiedemann. He died on 27 August 1990 in Marquartstein, Bavaria, West Germany.
- Jupp Heynckes was born on 9 May 1945 in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
- Michael Penners was born on 12 December 1974 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany.
- Chris Kempers was born on 7 January 1965 in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
- Script and Continuity Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Carmen Stuellenberg was born in 1977 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. She is an assistant director and director, known for Neun (2005), Head Full of Honey (2018) and Vergessen (2002).- Sükrü Pehlivan was born on 18 December 1972 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Director
- Cinematographer
- Producer
The family soon moved to Königsberg in East Prussia, where Sielmann grew up. During his school days he was already interested in the animal world. At the age of 18, Sielmann presented his scientific observations at the Zoological Institute in Königsberg. After graduating from high school, Sielmann studied biology at the University of Königsberg. While studying, he turned to animal observation, which he also captured on film. Sielmann made his debut as an animal filmmaker in 1938 with his first sound film "Birds over Haff and Meadows". After the outbreak of the Second World War he was exempted from military service for ornithological research.
Among other things, he worked on the island of Crete, which was occupied by the German Wehrmacht. After the end of the war, Sielmann joined the Institute for Film and Image in science and teaching in 1947, where he worked as a director and cameraman until 1958. The animal observer also produced film material for school lessons here, which shaped generations of students in western post-war Germany. The sophisticated technology that Sielmann used in his animal films attracted particular attention. In his documentary about "The Carpenters of the Forest" in 1954, for example, he filmed the woodpeckers from inside a previously prepared tree trunk.
The co-founder of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Briton Peter Scott, brought Sielmann into his BBC television series, which then took over and broadcast all of the animal observer's films. Sielmann shot his first feature film in the Congo in 1957 on behalf of the Belgian royal family: "Ruler of the Jungle" was an international success and won a prize at the Moscow Film Festival. In 1960, Sielmann became self-employed. He subsequently provided German television and school lessons with numerous productions. Sielmann undoubtedly achieved his greatest fame and popularity through the TV series "Expeditions into the Animal Kingdom", which he produced continuously in over 170 episodes for ARD until 1991.
During the 1980s, Sielmann became increasingly involved in ecological issues. He drew attention to threatened natural and landscape areas in the Federal Republic. The animal and nature conservationist hit the headlines in the wake of German reunification in 1989/90 when he suggested converting the former "death strip" on the inner-German border into a national park. In the fall of 1991, Sielmann opened a new broadcast project on RTLplus with "Sielmann 2000 - Return to the Future", which led to the discontinuation of his ARD series. However, the new series also had to be stopped early for financial reasons.
Following this, Sielmann realized the series "The Heinz-Sielmann-Report" on Sat.1, which he produced together with the WWF and was first broadcast in 1993. In 1996 he produced four episodes of the program "Sielmann's Nature Adventure" for the same private broadcaster. In 1994, Sielmann set up a nature conservation foundation named after him, which acquired a natural area in Brandenburg around 2002 as a habitat for endangered animal species. In 1995 he published his autobiography with the book "My Life". In the meantime, Sielmann had withdrawn from active filmmaking to devote himself entirely to his foundation.
Sielmann has received numerous awards for his film work, including five federal film awards. In 1987 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit First Class and in 1993 the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Also in 1993 he received the WWF's "Golden Ark". Sielmann has been an honorary professor at the University of Munich since 1994. The Grand Cross of Merit with Star of the Federal Republic followed in 1997. In autumn 2001, the animal researcher was awarded the Görlitz Meridian Nature Film Prize. In October 2004, the animal filmmaker received the international prize from the economic and environmental initiative B.A.U.M.
In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the State of Brandenburg and the German Environmental Prize. In 2006, a primary school in Crinitz was named "Heinz-Sielmann-Schule". Sielmann was married and the father of a son who had already died.- Jürgen Aretz was born on 10 February 1946 in Rheydt, Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Volker Pispers was born on 18 January 1958 in Rheydt [now Mönchengladbach], Germany. He is a writer and actor, known for Beziehungen - kein schöner Land, Scheibenwischer (1980) and Neues aus der Anstalt (2007).
- Verena Lepper was born in 1973 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Carina Hinzen was born on 10 August 1991 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She is an actress, known for Wer küßt schon einen Leguan? (2004).
- Sam Eisenstein was born on 26 November 1972 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He is an actor, known for Verbotene Liebe (1995), Alles was zählt (2006) and Bettys Diagnose (2015). He has been married to Mareike Eisenstein since 10 October 2010. They have four children.
- Astrid Randerath was born on 1 April 1965 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She is a writer, known for Nano (1999), ZDF-Mittagsmagazin (1989) and Markus Lanz (2008).
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Paul Laven was born on 11 December 1902 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He was an actor and writer, known for España heroica (1938), Allotria (1936) and Kampf (1932). He died on 19 October 1979 in Nidda, Hessen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.- Hans-Dieter Sues was born on 13 January 1956 in Rheydt, Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is known for Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (2007), Nova (1974) and Terra X - Rätsel alter Weltkulturen (1982).
- Art Department
Stefano Picco was born on 25 January 1977 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is known for Limp Bizkit: Rock in the Park (2008).- Erwin Kremers was born on 24 March 1949 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Heinz-Richard Heinemann was born on 12 January 1948 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Mikka Bender was born in 1954 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Will Elfes was born on 29 February 1924 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He died on 20 November 1971 in Munich, Bavaria, West Germany.
- Sabine Wegner was born in 1955 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. She is an actress, known for Stammheim - The Baader-Meinhof Gang on Trial (1986), In Search of Paradise (1992) and Men... (1985). She is married to Walter Kreye. They have two children.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Torsten Knippertz was born on 19 June 1970 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. He is an actor and writer, known for A Dangerous Method (2011), Miracle at St. Anna (2008) and neoManiacs (2017).- He found his passion for football as a child. His talent was recognized and encouraged early on. He first played in the E-youth team at "Borussia Mönchengladbach" in 1993 and later in various youth teams. For the 1998/99 season he moved from "SV Mönchengladbach" to the youth team of "Borussia Mönchengladbach". Here Marcell Jansen was able to draw further attention to himself as a young talent and celebrate his first successes. He was then accepted into the Borussia second team for the 2003/04 season before he was promoted to the professional team of the 1st Bundesliga in 2004/2005 thanks to the support of coach Dick Advocaat. As a defender on the left wing, Jansen developed into a brilliant play maker. On December 4, 2004, Marcell Jansen played his first game in the Bundesliga in the away game against "Herta BSC Berlin". The match ended in a 6-0 defeat.
Nevertheless, he was able to assert himself as a top player and secure his place as a regular player. Meanwhile, he had played three U21 international matches and played in all U national teams. After promotion to the senior national team, he celebrated his debut within the DFB squad under national coach Jürgen Klinsmann on September 3, 2005 in the Germany/Slovakia encounter. His contract with "Borussia Mönchengladbach" runs until 2009. His market value was estimated at 5 million euros in 2006. Jürgen Klinsmann appointed Marcell Jansen to the DFB squad of the German national team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After the German national team won the World Cup on June 30, 2006 with a 5-3 victory. After reaching the semi-finals against Argentina, the team under captain Michael Ballack lost 0-2 goals in extra time against Italy on July 4, 2006.
In the game for third place on July 8th in Stuttgart, the German team won 3-1 against Portugal. The triumph of the 2006 World Cup title went to Italy in the final on July 9th, to which France lost on penalties. In August 2006, Federal President Horst Köhler awarded the German national team the "Silver Laurel Leaf", the highest award that Germany can give to athletes. On May 24, 2007, FC Bayern Munich announced Jansen's commitment for the 2007/08 Bundesliga season. The 1.91 meter tall national player signed a four-year contract with FC Bayern until the end of June 2011. On June 2, 2007, he scored his first international goal against San Marino. - Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Editor
Hilmar Liebsch was born in 1964 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Hilmar is a writer and editor, known for [W] wie Wissen (2003), Quarks & Co. (1993) and Odysso - Wissen entdecken (2005).- Nina Juraga was born on 17 December 1975 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She is an actress, known for Verbotene Liebe (1995), The Air Rescue Team (1997) and Zwischen den Sternen (2002).