Here's something that I would bet my bottom Dollar on, that nobody here knew--that is-until now ;-))

Ok, just like many WWII American Vets who had been actors before-or during and or after the war, the Germans had their fair share of them as well. Johannes Meissner and others.

OK, the person I am centering this thread on also had served in the German Military before and during WWII. This man rose through the ranks to become an officer in this famed Luftwaffe unit and any of its variants--which was the Herman Goring Guard Battalion/Escourt Battalion/Regiment/ Division/Panzer Korps.

This man-just like Audie Leon Murphy, went on to win his nations highest combat bravery award-known as the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. The man I am speaking about-served in the Luftwaffe under the name of: Eduard Kieffer. However, that was not the name he used when he was an Actor.

Ok, one might wonder what is so special about this guy? well, he did become an accomplished actor and appeared in many great movies including The Great Escape, and Decision Before Dawn and Hannible Brooks-using differing variants of his name in each movie. Oh and he also appeared in The Odessa File.

I will omit his name for now because i'd like to see if anyone here who has a vivid imagination as well as a good knowledge about War Movies, can guess who he is before I reveal more info about him.

Would anyone here are to venture fourth, any guesses? ;-))

All of this came up thanks to a thread started on another great Militaria/Military History site-when someone wanted to see if anyone could help him ID a Soldiers photo which was signed-but barely legible. It took that orignator and two others to first figure out who this man was-because the name he was using that is written on his photo-is one that did not correspond with any known RKT on anykind of RKT list. Well, yours truely figured out what his name was though it was not very readable, found a nice bit of info in a book about him and his military service-ended up as a PoW in an American camp-promoted to Major and awarded is RK-because of his bravery and other deeds in North Afrika.


The second person I speak of that was able to provide further info after I solved the mystery surrounding his names used during his lifetime, had info stating that he was an Acto who appeared in The Great Escape. However, it had NOT occurred to me that this actor was using the last name he is known by-which is a shortened version of his first name--that is--untill Paul pointed it out ;-))

The third person responsible for solving part of this mystery-that to the best of our combined knowledges, is not listed on the net (until now) and is a bit of info not known but to a very few. It's no State secret either-for it being a rare bit of info-probably just something taken for grantage-or is a bit of info that somehow always fell through the cracks.

 

Til Kive

Axis History Forum • View topic - Actors who fought during wartime

Til Kiwe - Filmography by type

In German Til Kiwe – Wikipedia

 

yay,i did actually knew about germany having there own fame actors during ww2.I only find out months ago though.
but
i never knoew about all of you're information though.great information.

 

Hello Michelle, Heidi,

Michelle-thanks for letting me know it was already pointed out-I don't visit that site and had not known it was already talked about. Also, very nice Detective work on you part.

Til Kiwi is shortened from Tilmen Kiwi-aka Herr Kiefer.

Heidi, I am a huge fan of many great German Actors. Hans-Christian Blech, Werner Peters, Karl-Otto Alberty, Curt Jurgens, Klaus Lowitsch, Oskar Werner and many others. Kurt Krueger-another fine German Actor-passed away sometime last year or the year before? I always enjoyed his screen persona. This one is Austrian but-I wonder if Theodor Bikel is still living? I have not heard anything suggesting othewise.

If I can't get back here during the weekend-i'll try posting some info about Kiwis service in the Luftwaffe-if it isn't already known by then and posted here?

Michelle, thanks again for the link and double Kudos for you ;-))