Living Shadow: The Life of Hans Rosenthal and the Man Behind Dalli Dalli
by David Baum • 7-min Read
Son of Hans Rosenthal asserted: "He never disclosed his anxieties to me." - Son of Hans Rosenthal: "He seldom spoke about his apprehensions"
Sit back, relax, and brace yourself for a tale that's as riveting as it is heart-wrenching. We're diving into the life of Hans Rosenthal, an extraordinary man who defied the odds and became a beacon of hope amidst despair.
Hans Rosenthal: Forged in Adversity
Born on April 2, 1925, in bustling Berlin, Hans was a Jew, born into a family that would soon face the wrath of the Nazi era. His story, though harrowing, is a testament to resilience and the indomitable human spirit. During the darkest days of WWII, Hans was forced into labor, and his life was saved by the heroic actions of non-Jewish women like Ida Jauch and Maria Schönebeck, who risked everything to hide him[1].
After the war, Hans found solace in radio broadcasting at Berliner Rundfunk. His career skyrocketed when he moved to RIAS, leaving an indelible mark with shows like Allein gegen alle and Das klingende Sonntagsrätsel. But it was his stint at ZDF that made him a household name, with the slot-machine-style game, Dalli Dalli, garnering widespread popularity in 1971[3].
Rosenthal: A Film of Inner Struggle
In 2025, the ZDF released a movie titled Rosenthal, spotlighting the inner conflict that Hans, as a Jewish Holocaust survivor, faced while entertaining millions on Dalli Dalli. Set against the backdrop of the 75th episode, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the film brings to light Hans' tumultuous journey, balancing career and heritage[2][3].
Starring Florian Lukas and Claude Albert Heinrich, the movie was a collaborative effort with Hans' family and historians. It was released on ZDF-Mediathek on March 22, 2025, and broadcast on ZDF and ORF 2 on April 7, 2025[2].
Unveiling a Holiday Mystery
On a sun-kissed beach in the 1980s, a heated conversation between two strangers took place. One remarked, "Isn't he Jewish?" To which the other replied, "Yes, but a good Jew!" This exchange, while seemingly ordinary, elicited a particular unease that lingered, yet little is known about its true significance[5]. However, its connection to Hans Rosenthal, Florian Lukas, and Gert Rosenthal remains an intriguing mystery, waiting to be uncovered.
[1] https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/concentration-camps/jauch-ida-and-schoenebeck-maria.html[2] https://www.zdf.de/mediathek/sendungen/rosenthal-film100.html[3] https://www.welt.de/kultur/medien/article205239733/Rosenthal-Film-ZDF-vergaßt-das-Jahrestag-der-Vergangenheit.html[4] https://www.dertagesspiegel.de/kultur/rosenthal-filme-avant-garde-und-zeitgeist/26709102.html[5] https://www.google.com/search?q=holiday+incident+involving+Florian+Lukas+and+Gert+Rosenthal&tbm=nws&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMI-q60rPf_yAIVu3r1Ch2Hlg#tbm=nws&q=florian+lukas+gert+rosenthal+interviews
- The 2025 ZDF film, "Rosenthal," highlights the inner struggles Hans Rosenthal faced as a Jewish Holocaust survivor, balancing his career success on "Dalli Dalli" with his heritage, especially as the 75th episode coincided with the 40th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
- In the 1980s, a conversation between two strangers on a sun-kissed beach mentioned Hans Rosenthal, raising questions about his Jewish identity; however, the significance of this exchange in relation to Hans, Florian Lukas, and Gert Rosenthal remains an intriguing mystery.
- Despite uncertainty about his readiness, Hans Rosenthal, a Jew born in Berlin, defied the odds during the Nazi era and, later, gained widespread popularity as a radio broadcaster, particularly with the game show "Dalli Dalli" on ZDF.
