Swedish Superstar of Nazi Film: "The Diva of the Third Reich" Zarah Leander
When Art Meets War [collection]
•
14m
Zarah Leander, Sweden’s greatest film star, rose to fame in Hitler’s Germany as the face of UFA’s propaganda cinema. Dubbed the “Diva of the Third Reich,” she earned a fortune and lived in luxury while Europe burned. With her deep voice, striking presence, and iconic roles, she embodied the glamour of Nazi cinema. This documentary uncovers her rise to stardom, her uneasy ties with Goebbels, her escape back to Sweden, and the legacy she left behind.
Up Next in When Art Meets War [collection]
-
Famous Polish Actor Turned Nazi Colla...
From a popular film star to one of Poland’s most infamous Nazi collaborators, Igo Sym’s story is one of fame, betrayal, and deadly consequences. He was handsome, charming, and adored by fans. But under Nazi occupation, he was working with German authorities and used his influence to aid the occup...
-
Murdered in Moscow Under Stalin’s Ord...
Zinaida Reich was one of Moscow’s brightest actresses, the wife of director Vsevolod Meyerhold, and the former partner of poet Sergei Yesenin. Outspoken and unwilling to bend to Stalin’s control of Soviet art, she became a target. In July 1939, assailants stabbed her 17 times in her apartment, in...
-
The Occultist Who Helped Hitler Seize...
Erik Jan Hanussen, an Austrian-born clairvoyant and showman, became Hitler’s secret mentor in crowd control and propaganda. He dazzled Berlin with séances, lavish parties, and predictions—including foreseeing the Reichstag fire. But his closeness to Nazi leaders and the debts they owed him sealed...
