Walter Zerlett-Olfenius (7 April 1897 – 18 April 1975) was a German screenwriter, who worked on films for UFA (Universum Film AG), from 1936 until 1945. His most notable project was the 1943 Nazi film about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The film cost four million Reichsmarks (equivalent to 16 million € 2021).[1]
After attending schools in Hanover and his hometown of Wiesbaden, Zerlett-Olfenius enlisted with the Fusilier Regiment 80 in Wiesbaden at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. He initially served as a cadet, and (as of summer 1915) was a lieutenant in the later course of the war. Because of his language skills (English and French) in the Intelligence Service (NOB) of the General Staff work, after the war ended in 1918, he served briefly in the protection Regiment Greater Berlin.
In the early 1920s, Zerlett-Olfenius studied with the son of the music director at Berlin's Friedrich-Wilhelm University and attended the Graduate School. At the same time, he made his first professional steps in civilian life in the insurance industry. From 1922 to 1924, he worked as general manager and later as a partner in a Berlin factory. After losing his fortune as a purchasing agent for the British company London General Company of Trade, in 1925, Zerlett-Olfenius joined as Secretary General for German Radio Technical Association (DFTV). Serving the DFTV, Zerlett-Olfenius first worked as a writer (The Origin of the Aurora Borealis), created its press releases, wrote pamphlets (DFTV versus radio interference, electricity industry and radio interference) and was involved in radio magazines. 1933/34 Zerlett-Olfenius served as speaker of the Reich Broadcasting Company, but in 1934 finally moved into the film business and worked various jobs (recording and production), along with his brother, screenwriter and director Hans H. Zerlett.
Active as a screenwriter, since 1935, Zerlett-Olfenius fused the first part of his hyphenated familial name – Zerlett (his mother's maiden name – Olfenius, was his father's name), and began a close collaboration with director Herbert Selpin that would last until he had Selpin reported to the Gestapo during the filming of Titanic. Zerlett-Olfenius authored the templates for all common film genres. Particularly successful in his dramatic stories, including two adventure films and a marriage and travel material, and a Nazi propaganda film, all of them were with Hans Albers.
While filming Titanic, Selpin allegedly made disparaging remarks about how the German officers working on the film were molesting female cast members. Zerlett-Olfenius reported this to his close friend, Hans Hinkel, saying Selpin had uttered "vile calumnies and insults German soldiers at the front and front-line officers". Selpin was subsequently arrested and, while Hinkel and the Gestapo were willing to let him off lightly, Zerlett-Olfenius was not.[2] Two days after refusing to recant, Selpin was murdered on the orders of Goebbels and his death ruled a suicide.[3][4] After this, UFA GmbH (The Nazi Propaganda ministry had by 1942 centralised all German film making) mostly shunned Zerlett-Olfenius and Goebbels even issued a decree threatening to personally investigate and subject anyone who refused to work with Zerlett-Olfenius to the same fate as Selpin.[4]
Imprisonment and deathedit
In August 1947, Zerlett-Olfenius was put on trial for his actions in reporting Selpin to the Gestapo, with pictures taken of Selpin's body used as evidence, and sentenced to five years in a labor camp.[5] Fifty percent of his assets were confiscated. This sentence was revoked in 1949 on appeal. Together with his actress wife, Eva Tinschmann, he retired to Rosshaupten in Bavaria. Zerlett-Olfenius never again worked in the film industry. He died in 1975.
^Lebovic, Matt (1 October 2013). "Goebbels' 'Titanic' cinematic disaster turns 70". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
^Bergfelder, Tim; Street, Sarah. The Titanic in Myth and Memory: Representations in Visual and Literary Culture. I.B. Taurus & Co Ltd. p. 129. ISBN1 85043 431 X.
^Poley, Jared (2001–2002). "Analysis of a Nazi Titanic". New German Review. 17.
^ abHawkins, Brian (12 April 2012). "Full Comment: The Titanic's last victim". National Post. p. A10.
Kay Weniger: Zwischen Bühne und Baracke. Lexikon der verfolgten Theater-, Film- und Musikkünstler 1933 bis 1945. Mit einem Geleitwort von Paul Spiegel. Metropol, Berlin 2008, ISBN978-3-938690-10-9, p. 435.
walter, zerlett, olfenius, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Walter Zerlett Olfenius news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Walter Zerlett Olfenius 7 April 1897 18 April 1975 was a German screenwriter who worked on films for UFA Universum Film AG from 1936 until 1945 His most notable project was the 1943 Nazi film about the sinking of the RMS Titanic The film cost four million Reichsmarks equivalent to 16 million 2021 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Imprisonment and death 3 Filmography 4 References 5 Literature 6 External linksCareer editAfter attending schools in Hanover and his hometown of Wiesbaden Zerlett Olfenius enlisted with the Fusilier Regiment 80 in Wiesbaden at the outbreak of World War I in 1914 He initially served as a cadet and as of summer 1915 was a lieutenant in the later course of the war Because of his language skills English and French in the Intelligence Service NOB of the General Staff work after the war ended in 1918 he served briefly in the protection Regiment Greater Berlin In the early 1920s Zerlett Olfenius studied with the son of the music director at Berlin s Friedrich Wilhelm University and attended the Graduate School At the same time he made his first professional steps in civilian life in the insurance industry From 1922 to 1924 he worked as general manager and later as a partner in a Berlin factory After losing his fortune as a purchasing agent for the British company London General Company of Trade in 1925 Zerlett Olfenius joined as Secretary General for German Radio Technical Association DFTV Serving the DFTV Zerlett Olfenius first worked as a writer The Origin of the Aurora Borealis created its press releases wrote pamphlets DFTV versus radio interference electricity industry and radio interference and was involved in radio magazines 1933 34 Zerlett Olfenius served as speaker of the Reich Broadcasting Company but in 1934 finally moved into the film business and worked various jobs recording and production along with his brother screenwriter and director Hans H Zerlett Active as a screenwriter since 1935 Zerlett Olfenius fused the first part of his hyphenated familial name Zerlett his mother s maiden name Olfenius was his father s name and began a close collaboration with director Herbert Selpin that would last until he had Selpin reported to the Gestapo during the filming of Titanic Zerlett Olfenius authored the templates for all common film genres Particularly successful in his dramatic stories including two adventure films and a marriage and travel material and a Nazi propaganda film all of them were with Hans Albers While filming Titanic Selpin allegedly made disparaging remarks about how the German officers working on the film were molesting female cast members Zerlett Olfenius reported this to his close friend Hans Hinkel saying Selpin had uttered vile calumnies and insults German soldiers at the front and front line officers Selpin was subsequently arrested and while Hinkel and the Gestapo were willing to let him off lightly Zerlett Olfenius was not 2 Two days after refusing to recant Selpin was murdered on the orders of Goebbels and his death ruled a suicide 3 4 After this UFA GmbH The Nazi Propaganda ministry had by 1942 centralised all German film making mostly shunned Zerlett Olfenius and Goebbels even issued a decree threatening to personally investigate and subject anyone who refused to work with Zerlett Olfenius to the same fate as Selpin 4 Imprisonment and death editIn August 1947 Zerlett Olfenius was put on trial for his actions in reporting Selpin to the Gestapo with pictures taken of Selpin s body used as evidence and sentenced to five years in a labor camp 5 Fifty percent of his assets were confiscated This sentence was revoked in 1949 on appeal Together with his actress wife Eva Tinschmann he retired to Rosshaupten in Bavaria Zerlett Olfenius never again worked in the film industry He died in 1975 Filmography editYear Title Production company Notes 1936 Skandal um die Fledermaus Tofa Tonfilm Fabrikations Writer 1936 Spiel an Bord Neucophon Tonfilm Produktion Writer 1936 Romance also known as Romanze and Die Frau des anderen Patria Film Writer 1937 Alarm in Peking Minerva Tonfilm GmbH Writer 1938 Nights of Princes Les Productions I N Ermolieff Screenplay 1938 After Midnight Ermolieff Films Tobis Filmkunst Writer Dialogue Director 1938 Narren im Schnee Cinephon Film GmbH Screenplay 1939 Wasser fur Canitoga Bavaria Film Bavaria Filmkunst Writer 1940 A Man Astray Euphono Film GmbH Tobis Filmkunst Writer 1940 Trenck der Pandur Tobis Filmkunst Writer 1941 Carl Peters Bavaria Film Bavaria Filmkunst Writer Edited into Germany Awake 1968 1942 Geheimakte W B 1 Writer 1943 Titanic Tobis Filmkunst Writer 1943 Die schwache Stunde Bavaria Filmkunst Adaptation References edit Lebovic Matt 1 October 2013 Goebbels Titanic cinematic disaster turns 70 The Times of Israel Retrieved 15 November 2015 Bergfelder Tim Street Sarah The Titanic in Myth and Memory Representations in Visual and Literary Culture I B Taurus amp Co Ltd p 129 ISBN 1 85043 431 X Poley Jared 2001 2002 Analysis of a Nazi Titanic New German Review 17 a b Hawkins Brian 12 April 2012 Full Comment The Titanic s last victim National Post p A10 Sullivan Monica Movie Review Titanic 1943 Shoestring August 2004 Accessed 20 July 2017 http www shoestring org mmi revs titanic 1943 ms 146403019 htmlLiterature editKay Weniger Zwischen Buhne und Baracke Lexikon der verfolgten Theater Film und Musikkunstler 1933 bis 1945 Mit einem Geleitwort von Paul Spiegel Metropol Berlin 2008 ISBN 978 3 938690 10 9 p 435 External links editWalter Zerlett Olfenius at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Zerlett Olfenius amp oldid 1218251677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
