With humility, this small headstone quietly marks the final resting place of Dinah Nelken. She was born Bernhardine Katharina Anna Schneider in Berlin in 1900. The celebrated German writer and screenwriter Dinah Nelken is buried here.
Dinah’s story began in Charlottenburg. Her father, a shopkeeper, also embraced acting. This vibrant environment nurtured her creative spirit. She honed her skills through self-education.
In 1918, Dinah married Fritz Nelken, a chemist. Their son Peter was born shortly after. The marriage ended in divorce. Peter spent his early years with his grandparents.
The 1920s marked Dinah Nelken’s rise as a writer. Her short stories and articles graced Berlin’s newspapers. She co-founded the political cabaret Die Unmöglichen.
Around 1928, she found a home in the Künstlerkolonie Wilmersdorf. This artist colony inspired her novel Eineinhalb Zimmer Wohnung. It offered a glimpse into life there.
As the political climate darkened in 1936, Dinah Nelken moved to Vienna with her partner Heinrich Ohlenmacher. There, she penned numerous screenplays. She also co-authored the epistolary novel Ich an Dich with her brother Rolf Gero Schneider.
Escaping the Nazi annexation of Austria, Dinah fled to Yugoslavia and then Italy. She worked for the publisher Mondadori in Milan. Finally, in 1950, she returned to West Berlin with Heinrich.
Dinah Nelken’s work often reflected her antifascist views. Her novel Spring über deinen Schatten, spring! explored these themes. She also wrote the story of Fleur Lafontaine. It became a popular East German television film.
Her legacy includes novels, screenplays, and plays. Dinah Nelken’s work explored themes of love, loss, and political turmoil. She passed away in Berlin in 1989.
She was a versatile writer. Dinah Nelken wrote film scripts, radio plays and essays. She also wrote poems. Her sharp wit made her famous.
Dinah Nelken’s life was one of artistic passion and political conviction. This gravesite serves as a reminder of her contributions to German literature and film. Her grave is located in section 24, number 372. It is a peaceful spot.