“Das war spitze!” Can you hear it? That was Hans Rosenthal’s famous saying. The Hans Rosenthal Stele commemorates a remarkable man. He was a popular radio and TV entertainer.
Hans Rosenthal was born in 1925. He became a well-known figure in post-war Germany. The Hans Rosenthal Stele stands as a reminder of his life.
Rosenthal faced terrible times during the Nazi era. He was excluded and persecuted as a Jew. He had to do forced labor at the beginning of World War II. Rosenthal survived the Shoah by hiding in a garden complex. This was in the northeast of Berlin.
The Hans Rosenthal Stele honors his resilience. Three non-Jewish women cared for him. They helped him survive in Lichtenberg. After the war Rosenthal became famous. He also became an important member of Germany’s Jewish community.
Hans Rosenthal first gained fame on RIAS radio. Later, he became a TV star. His shows became very popular across Germany.
Shows like “Wer fragt – gewinnt” were his hits. Other famous shows were “Das klingende Sonntagsrätsel” and “Allein gegen alle”. “Dalli Dalli” was another favorite. His trademark was jumping in the air. He would shout “Das war spitze!”
The Hans Rosenthal Stele reminds us of his energy. He is buried in the Jewish Cemetery Heerstraße. It is located at Scholzplatz.
The Hans Rosenthal Stele was revealed in 2000. The mayor Reinhard Kraetzer attended. Rosenthal’s widow and children were also there.
Before the Hans Rosenthal Stele, remember his courage. He went into hiding in 1943. Anna Rosenthal, his non-Jewish grandmother, helped. She sent him to Ida Jauch. Jauch hid him in her garden house. This was in the Dreieinigkeit allotment gardens.
He could only leave at night during air raids. His grandmother brought food. When Ida Jauch died, Maria Schönebeck helped. She shared her food with him. The Red Army liberated Hans Rosenthal in 1945.
The Hans Rosenthal Stele is more than a monument. It represents hope, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. It stands for a man who brought joy to millions. He overcame immense adversity. Remember his story and his famous words. “Das war spitze!” That was Spitze!