Karl-Heinz Reintgen (1915 – 17 September 1990) was a German journalist, who served as editor-in-chief of radio and television and then as deputy director-general of Saarländischer Rundfunk (Saarland Broadcasting Corporation) between 1968 and 1980. He served as a journalist in the broadcast service operated by the German armed forced during World War II and held the rank of lieutenant in the Army. As head of Radio Belgrade, then a German military radio station, he is credited with making the tune " Lili Marleen" widely known.

Career

Reintgen started his radio career as early as 1935. Among other commands during

WW-II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he was in charge of the German Army's

Soldatensender __NOTOC__ Soldatensender Calais (G.9) (, ''Soldiers' Radio Calais'') was a British black propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War operated by the Political Warfare Executive. It pretended to be a station of the German military broadcasti ...

Radio Belgrade, situated in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He is credited with making the tune " Lili Marleen" by

Lale Anderson Lale Andersen (23 March 1905 – 29 August 1972) was a German chanson singer-songwriter and actress born in Bremerhaven, Lehe (now part of Bremerhaven). She is best known for her interpretation of the song ''Lili Marleen'' in 1939, which by 19 ...

a war-time theme for troops on both sides by playing it every evening at 9.55 PM. He was portrayed by Herb Andress in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film '' Lili Marleen''. In 1961 he entered the service of the Saarländischer Rundfunk. He built up the TV program "Aktuelles Fernsehen." In 1968 he was promoted to editor-in-chief for all radio and TV programs. From 1971 until 1980 he was the deputy director-general of the Saarländischer Rundfunk.

Honours

In 1976 he was awarded the

Federal Cross of Merit The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

References

German Army officers of World War II 1915 births 1990 deaths Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany German radio people {{Germany-army-bio-stub