Lyda Baarova
She came to Berlin in 1934. Like many of the Nazi elite, she and her German actor husband, Gustav Fröchlich, lived in a Berlin villa on the picturesque Wannsee, just three doors down from Goebbels. He ardently pursued her, entertaining her in his villa and lavishing her with expensive gifts.
When Fröhlich found out, legend has it that he challenged him to a duel. Another story was that Fröhlich's friends found Goebbels at Baarova's flat and beat him up.
Fröhlich was briefly detained in a concentration camp, but it was Goebbels wife, Magda, who went to Hitler about her husband's behaviour. Hitler was furious, refusing Goebbels permission to divorce Magda and marry Baarova...Historians tell it slightly differently: through the head of the Berlin police, Hitler ordered her extradition and banned her films...
Despite his stated disapproval of the "inferior Slav", even the Führer showed romantic interest in the actress.
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Olga Tschechowa
Of Russian-German descent. She was famous for her movie image as a baroness and was courted in the 1930s by Luftwaffe boss Hermann Göring and by propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Goebbels referred to her in his diaries as "eine charmante Frau" ( 'a charming woman' ). Some wives of high-ranking Nazi officials were jealous of and hated the beautiful Olga.
Olga became a personal friend of Hitler and was photographed sitting next to "Der Führer" at official events of the Nazi Party. She also received valuable Christmas gifts from Hitler, and regular birthday presents and other tokens of his attention.
In 1936 Olga was honoured with the title of "State Actress" of the Third Reich and was made a German citizen.
She came to Berlin in 1934. Like many of the Nazi elite, she and her German actor husband, Gustav Fröchlich, lived in a Berlin villa on the picturesque Wannsee, just three doors down from Goebbels. He ardently pursued her, entertaining her in his villa and lavishing her with expensive gifts.
When Fröhlich found out, legend has it that he challenged him to a duel. Another story was that Fröhlich's friends found Goebbels at Baarova's flat and beat him up.
Fröhlich was briefly detained in a concentration camp, but it was Goebbels wife, Magda, who went to Hitler about her husband's behaviour. Hitler was furious, refusing Goebbels permission to divorce Magda and marry Baarova...Historians tell it slightly differently: through the head of the Berlin police, Hitler ordered her extradition and banned her films...
Despite his stated disapproval of the "inferior Slav", even the Führer showed romantic interest in the actress.
_______________________________________________
Olga Tschechowa
Of Russian-German descent. She was famous for her movie image as a baroness and was courted in the 1930s by Luftwaffe boss Hermann Göring and by propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Goebbels referred to her in his diaries as "eine charmante Frau" ( 'a charming woman' ). Some wives of high-ranking Nazi officials were jealous of and hated the beautiful Olga.
Olga became a personal friend of Hitler and was photographed sitting next to "Der Führer" at official events of the Nazi Party. She also received valuable Christmas gifts from Hitler, and regular birthday presents and other tokens of his attention.
In 1936 Olga was honoured with the title of "State Actress" of the Third Reich and was made a German citizen.
