Ernst Busch

Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Busch (22 January 1900 – 8 June 1980) was a German singer and actor. He is best known for singing German socialist songs and was active during the Civil War in Spain and World War II.

Biography Busch was born to a Kiel worker family. He started in life as a shipyard worker before he decided to make use of his acting and singing talent.

Busch first rose to prominence as an interpreter of political songs, particularly those of Kurt Tucholsky, in the Berlin Kabarett scene of the 1920s. He starred in the original 1928 production of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera, as well as the subsequent 1931 film by Georg Wilhelm Pabst. He also appeared in the movie Kuhle Wampe, singing Solidaritätslied.

A lifelong communist, Busch fled Nazi Germany in 1933, accompanied by his wife, Eva Busch, and with the Gestapo on his heels, initially settling in the Netherlands. By 1938 they had divorced, without acrimony, as their lives diverged. Eva settled in Paris while Ernst initially made his home in the Soviet Union where he worked with Gustav von Wangenheim on the 1935 film "Kämpfer" ("Fighters"). In 1937 he joined the International Brigades to fight against the nationalists in Spain. His wartime songs were then recorded and broadcast by Radio Barcelona and Radio Madrid. After the Spanish Republic fell to General Franco, Busch migrated to Belgium where he was interned during the German occupation and later imprisoned in Camp Gurs, France and Berlin. Freed by the Red Army in 1945, he settled in East Berlin, where he acted in the first play to be produced in the American-occupied zone, Robert Ardrey's Thunder Rock. He would go on to start his own record label and work with Bertolt Brecht and Erwin Piscator at the "Berliner Ensemble". A beloved figure in the German Democratic Republic, he is best remembered for his performance in the title role of Brecht's Life of Galileo and his recordings of workers songs, including many written by Hanns Eisler. He also lent his voice to a memorable recording of "Peat Bog Soldiers".

Recordings of Spanish Civil War songs (incomplete list) From "Canciones de las Brigadas Internacionales" and "Solidarität".

Adelante Campesinos Am Rio Jarama – "On the Jarama Front" / Lied von der XI Brigade – "Song of the XIth Brigade" Los Campesinos – "The Peasants" Las Compañías de Acero Los Cuatro Generales Himno de Riego / Riego Hymne – "Colonel Riego's Hymn" Hans Beimler Des Lied von der Einheitsfront''' / EinheitsfrontliedLied der Internationalen Brigaden' / Lied Der Interbrigaden – "Song of the International Brigades"Mamita MiaDie Moorsoldaten – "Peat Bog Soldiers"Nuestra Bandera – "Our Flag"Peter, Mein Kamerad – "Peter, My Comrade""Spaniens Himmel" or "Die Thälmann-Kolonne" – "Spain's Heaven" or "The Thälmann Battalion" (Page 30f)

Recordings of Second World War and other songs (incomplete list)Ach Ihr WegeAlle Waffen gegen HitlerAmi go home AufbauliedDie Armeen EuropasBallade von den SäckeschmeißernDer Barrikaden-TauberDank Euch Ihr SowjetsoldatenDas Lied vom SA-MannDiplomatenDer GrabenDer heimliche AufmarschEs Kommt der TagEinheitsfrontliedFrieden der WeltKämpfen wie LeninKampflied gegen den FaschismusKoreaLeninLied der BergarbeiterLied der InterbrigadenLied der ParteiLied der WerktätigenLied vom Adler StalinLied vom VaterlandLinker MarschLinks RechtsLob des KommunismusMarsch der AntifaschistenDer Marsch Ins Dritte ReichMatrosen von KronstadtDer rote WeddingSehnsucht nach der HeimatSolidaritätsliedStalin Freund GenosseTrotz alledemLegende vom toten SoldatenVorwärts BolschewikWir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen''

Awards, medals, and recognition

Germany's most prestigious school for stage acting and directing is named after the actor, the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts (Hochschule für Schauspielkunst "Ernst Busch", HFS) in Berlin. Busch was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize for 1970–71.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1929 Katharina Knie 1931 The Street Song Der Straßensänger 1931 Gassenhauer Peter 1931 The Song of Life Sänger 1931 Kameradschaft Wittkopp 1931 Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. 1931 Hell on Earth Ernst Kohler 1932 Kuhle Wampe Fritz 1932 Raid in St. Pauli Singer 1932 Strafsache van Geldern 1932 Die Zwei vom Südexpress Hans, Heizer 1932 Eine von uns Peter 1933 The Lake Calls Besatzung der 'Carola' 1936 Der Kampf Judge 1960 Five Cartridges Singer 1961 Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder Koch 1971 Goya or the Hard Way to Enlightenment Gaspar Melchor de Jovelianos (final film role)