# Mathilde Danegger

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{{Short description|Austrian actress (1903–1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name            = Mathilde Danegger
| image           = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-78024-0028, Berlin, VII. DFD-Bundeskongress cropped.jpg
| caption         = Mathilde Danegger addressing the 7th Congress of the [German Democratic Women's League](/source/Democratic_Women's_League_of_Germany) ([Demokratischer Frauenbund Deutschlands](/source/%3Ade%3ADemokratischer_Frauenbund_Deutschlands)), 27 November 1960
| image_size      = 300px
| birth_name      = Mathilde Deutsch
| birth_date      = {{Birth date |df=yes|1903|08|02}}
| birth_place     = [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Austria-Hungary](/source/Austria-Hungary)
| death_date      = {{death date and age |df=yes|1988|07|27|1903|08|02}}
| death_place     = [East Berlin](/source/East_Berlin), [East Germany](/source/East_Germany)
| other_names     = Mathilde Leusch
| political_party = [KPD](/source/Communist_Party_of_Germany)
| parents         = [Josef Danegger, Snr <br>''(real name Josef Deutsch)''](/source/%3Ade%3AJosef_Danegger_(Schauspieler%2C_1865)) (1865–1933)<ref name= BLDT>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQ52DwAAQBAJ&q=Schauspielerin+Bertha+M%C3%BCller&pg=PA163 |title= ''Biographisches Lexikon der Theaterkünstler'' – Bertha Denigger, geb. Müller – Schauspielerin|isbn= 9783110959697|last1= Trapp|first1= Frithjof|last2= Schrader|first2= Bärbel|last3= Wenk|first3= Dieter|last4= Maaß|first4= Ingrid|date= 22 May 2013|publisher= Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG}}</ref>
| alma_mater      =
| occupation      = actress
| spouse          = [Herbert Waniek](/source/%3Ade%3AHerbert_Waniek) (1897–1949)<br/> [Walter Lesch](/source/Walter_Lesch) (1898–1958)<br/> [Herbert Crüger](/source/Herbert_Cr%C3%BCger) (1911–2003)
| children        = [Karin Lesch](/source/Karin_Lesch) 
}}

'''Mathilde Danegger''' ({{nee}} '''Mathilde Deutsch'''; 2 August 1903 – 27 July 1988) was an [Austria](/source/Austria)n stage and movie actress.<ref name=MDlautRS>{{cite web|url=http://www.defa-sternstunden.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200315/http://www.defa-sternstunden.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=4|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016| title=Mathilde Danegger Biographie|author=Renate Seydel|display-authors=etal|work= Schauspieler; Das große Lexikon der DDR-Stars|accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref> Sources may also identify her by the pseudonym, Mathilde Leusch; Leusch is apparently a variant of her second husband's surname (Lesch).<ref name=MDlautwww>{{cite web|title=Danegger, Mathilde (Ps. Mathilde Leusch) geb. Deutsch * 2.8.1903, † 27.7.1988 Schauspielerin|work=Wer war wer in der DDR?|author=Bernd-Rainer Barth|author-link=Bernd-Rainer Barth|publisher=Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin & Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur, Berlin|url=http://bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/wer-war-wer-in-der-ddr-%2363%3B-1424.html?ID=531|accessdate=19 July 2016|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919041226/http://bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/wer-war-wer-in-der-ddr-|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Life==
Mathilde Danegger was born and attended school in [Vienna](/source/Vienna). Her father was an [Austria](/source/Austria)n  character actor and stage producer {{Interlanguage link|Josef Danegger|de|3=Josef Danegger (Schauspieler, 1865)}} (real name, Joseph Deutsch: 1865–1933) who later took over as director of the [City Theatre in Zürich](/source/Z%C3%BCrich_Opera_House).<ref name=MDlautRS/> Her mother, Bertha Danegger (real name Bertha Deutsch; known professionally by her maiden name Bertha Müller, she was an Austrian actress of stage and silent film.<ref name=MDlautwww/>

Like her elder brothers, {{Interlanguage link|Josef Danegger|de|3=Josef Danegger (Schauspieler, 1889)}} (1889–1948) and [Theodor Danegger](/source/Theodor_Danegger) (1891–1959), she decided on a stage career early in life. She started her performing with children's roles, making her debut in 1912 at [Max Reinhardt](/source/Max_Reinhardt)'s [Deutsches Theater](/source/Deutsches_Theater_(Berlin)) in [Berlin](/source/Berlin), with a further youthful appearance there in 1914.<ref name=MDlautRS/>

She would continue to return to the Berlin stage throughout her career, but by 1919 she was, with her parents, based in [Zürich](/source/Z%C3%BCrich).   In 1919–1920 she had engagements at the [City Theatre](/source/Burgtheater) in [Vienna](/source/Vienna).   From 1921 to 1924, she was working, primarily, at the [Popular Theatre](/source/Volkstheater%2C_Vienna) in Vienna, and, between 1924 and 1928, at the [Theater in der Josefstadt](/source/Theater_in_der_Josefstadt).<ref name=MDlautwww/>

Danegger's first marriage was to [Herbert Waniek](/source/Herbert_Waniek) (1897–1949) whose theatre career during the 1920s was focused on the same Vienna theatres as those of his wife. Waniek had connections with the "German Theatre" at [Brno (in the former Czechoslovakia)](/source/Brno), where, until 1933, Mathilde Danegger was making regular guest appearances.   There were also frequent guest appearances at theatres in Berlin and Vienna.<ref name=MDlautwww/> Around this time she married her second husband, Swiss drama producer [Walter Lesch](/source/Walter_Lesch) (1898–1958).<ref name=MDlautwww/>

With the German [change in government](/source/Machtergreifung) at the start of 1933, Mathilde, a staunch antifascist, fled to [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) where she worked at the [National Theatre in Zürich](/source/Schauspielhaus_Z%C3%BCrich) with [Wolfgang Langhoff](/source/Wolfgang_Langhoff), like her a political exile from [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany). She took part in political cabaret, between 1934 and 1938 appearing in the "Cornichon" cabaret established by [her husband](/source/Walter_Lesch).<ref name=MDlautwww/> In 1939, she met with [Herbert Crüger](/source/Herbert_Cr%C3%BCger), who subsequently became her third husband.<ref name=MDlautwww/>   She was a co-founder in Switzerland of the [National Committee for a Free Germany](/source/National_Committee_for_a_Free_Germany).<ref name=MDlautRS/>

Two years after the war ended, in 1947, Mathilde Danegger returned to [Germany](/source/Germany). Sources differ as to whether she settled in the [American occupation zone](/source/Allied-occupied_Germany)<ref name=MDlautwww/> or in [East Berlin](/source/East_Berlin),<ref name=MDlautRS/> which was in the central part of what had been Germany, and was now [administered](/source/Soviet_Military_Administration_in_Germany) as part of the [Soviet occupation zone](/source/Soviet_occupation_zone).{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In reality, it was several years before the political division of occupied Germany would be matched by physical barriers.   Between 1947 and 1951, she was working at the [Hessische National Theatre](/source/Hessisches_Staatstheater_Wiesbaden) in [Wiesbaden](/source/Wiesbaden).<ref name=MDlautwww/> In East Berlin, supported by the dramatist's wife and business manager, [Helene Weigel](/source/Helene_Weigel), Danegger was recruited by [Bertolt Brecht](/source/Bertolt_Brecht) to work at the [Berliner Ensemble](/source/Berliner_Ensemble) where she was employed between 1951 and 1953.<ref name=MDlautRS/> During these years she was active in the peace movement.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In December 1948 she joined the [German Communist Party](/source/Communist_Party_of_Germany).   Between 1948 and 1951 she also wrote, as Cultural Editor, for ''Unsere Stimme'', a regional communist news magazine based at [Villingen-Schwenningen](/source/Villingen-Schwenningen) near the border with [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland).<ref name=MDlautwww/>

In 1953, four years after the foundation of two separate German states, and with the [border between them](/source/Inner_German_border) becoming less permeable, she formally relocated with [her husband](/source/Herbert_Cr%C3%BCger) to the [German Democratic Republic (East Germany)](/source/German_Democratic_Republic).<ref name=MDlautwww/> There followed a long period as a star of the [Deutsches Theater](/source/Deutsches_Theater_(Berlin)) in Berlin.   Among others, she took part in productions by [Wolfgang Langhoff](/source/Wolfgang_Langhoff), [Wolfgang Heinz](/source/Wolfgang_Heinz_(actor)),  [Benno Besson](/source/Benno_Besson) and {{Interlanguage link|Adolf Dresen|de}}.<ref name=MDlautwww/>

In parallel with her theatre work, from 1960 she built up an extensive repertoire of cinema and television roles in productions by the state-owned film studio, [DEFA](/source/DEFA_(film_studio)), and [Deutscher Fernsehfunk](/source/Deutscher_Fernsehfunk), the state television broadcaster.   She had already undertaken a significant amount of acting work in front of the camera during her time in Switzerland.   Of particular note was her portrayal of Frau Holle in the 1963 [film of the eponymous fairy tale](/source/%3Ade%3AFrau_Holle_(1963)) by [Gottfried Kolditz](/source/Gottfried_Kolditz) and her television role in "Mutter Jantschowa" (1968).<ref name=MDlautRS/>

She remained politically engaged throughout.   In 1957 she wrote a letter to [the party](/source/Socialist_Unity_Party_of_Germany) defending dissident [Wolfgang Harich](/source/Wolfgang_Harich) following his arrest.<ref name=MDlautwww/>

==Marriages==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2022}}
By her second husband she was the mother of the actress [Karin Lesch](/source/Karin_Lesch).<ref name=KLlautKM>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreihaselnuessefueraschenbroedel.de/mitwirkende/karin-lesch/|title=Karin Lesch ... Tochter der Schauspielerin Mathilde Danegger |publisher=Kathrin Miebach, Meschede i.A. "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel"|accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref>

Her third husband, the university lecturer and author [Herbert Crüger](/source/Herbert_Cr%C3%BCger), became caught up in the political persecution that was a feature of East Germany in the 1950s. In 1956, he was overheard criticising the arrest of [Bernhard Steinberger](/source/Bernhard_Steinberger) in the aftermath of the remarkable [party conference](/source/20th_Congress_of_the_Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union) of the [Soviet Communist Party](/source/Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union).

In March 1958 Crüger was himself arrested by the [Ministry for State Security (Stasi)](/source/Stasi).   At a secret trial in December 1958 he was found guilty of "high treason" (''"schweren Staatsverrats"'') and sentenced to an eight-year jail term.   In the end he was released in 1961 and rehabilitated by the High Court in May 1990.<ref name=HClautwww>{{cite web|title=Crüger, Herbert * 17.5.1911, † 17.1.2003 "Säuberungs"-Opfer|work=Wer war wer in der DDR?|author=Bernd-Rainer Barth|author-link=Bernd-Rainer Barth|publisher=Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin & Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur, Berlin| url=http://bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/wer-war-wer-in-der-ddr-%2363%3B-1424.html?ID=510| accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref>

== Filmography (selection) ==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

'''Cinema films'''
* 1921: ''Wege des Schreckens'' – producer: [Mihály Kertész](/source/Michael_Curtiz)
* 1933: ''{{Interlanguage link|Wie d’Warret würkt|de}}'' – producer: [Walter Lesch](/source/Walter_Lesch) und [Richard Schweizer](/source/Richard_Schweizer)
* 1935: ''{{Interlanguage link|Ja sooo!|de}}'' – producer: Walter Lesch und [Leopold Lindtberg](/source/Leopold_Lindtberg)
* 1940: ''{{Interlanguage link|Die missbrauchten Liebesbriefe|de}}'' – producer: Leopold Lindtberg
* 1942: [Der Schuss von der Kanzel](/source/%3Ade%3ADer_Schuss_von_der_Kanzel_(Film))
* 1944: ''[Marie-Louise](/source/Marie-Louise_(film))'' – producer: Leopold Lindtberg
* 1947: ''[Madness Rules](/source/Madness_Rules)'' – producer: Leopold Lindtberg
* 1956: ''[Lissy](/source/Lissy_(film))'' – producer: [Konrad Wolf](/source/Konrad_Wolf)
* 1959: ''[Ehesache Lorenz](/source/Ehesache_Lorenz)'' – producer: [Joachim Kunert](/source/Joachim_Kunert)
* 1960: ''{{Interlanguage link|Leute mit Flügeln|de}}'' – producer: Konrad Wolf
* 1962: ''[Das verhexte Fischerdorf](/source/Das_verhexte_Fischerdorf)''
* 1962: ''[A Lively Christmas Eve](/source/A_Lively_Christmas_Eve)'' – producer: [Günter Reisch](/source/G%C3%BCnter_Reisch)
* 1963: ''[Die Glatzkopfbande](/source/Die_Glatzkopfbande)'' – producer: [Richard Groschopp](/source/%3Ade%3ARichard_Groschopp)
* 1963: [Frau Holle](/source/%3Ade%3AFrau_Holle_(1963)) – producer: [Gottfried Kolditz](/source/Gottfried_Kolditz)
* 1964: ''[Geliebte weiße Maus](/source/Geliebte_wei%C3%9Fe_Maus)'' – producer: Gottfried Kolditz
* 1964: [Der fliegende Holländer](/source/%3Ade%3ADer_fliegende_Holl%C3%A4nder_(1964)) – producer: [Joachim Herz](/source/Joachim_Herz)
* 1965: ''[Solange Leben in mir ist](/source/Solange_Leben_in_mir_ist)''
* 1965: ''{{Interlanguage link|Wenn du groß bist, lieber Adam|de}}''
* 1968: [Abschied](/source/%3Ade%3AAbschied_(1968))
* 1969: ''Zeit zu leben'' – producer: [Horst Seemann](/source/Horst_Seemann)
* 1969: ''[Seine Hoheit – Genosse Prinz](/source/Seine_Hoheit_%E2%80%93_Genosse_Prinz)'' – producer: [Werner W. Wallroth](/source/Werner_W._Wallroth)
* 1987: ''{{Interlanguage link|Wie die Alten sungen…|de}}'' – producer: Günter Reisch

'''Television films'''
* 1960: ''Steine im Weg'' – producer: [Wilhelm Gröhl](/source/%3Ade%3AWilhelm_Gr%C3%B6hl)
* 1967: ''Kleiner Mann – was nun?'' – producer: [Hans-Joachim Kasprzik](/source/Hans-Joachim_Kasprzik)
* 1970: ''Anlauf'' – producer: [Egon Günther](/source/Egon_G%C3%BCnther)
* 1977: ''{{Interlanguage link|Polizeiruf 110: Ein unbequemer Zeuge|de}}'' (TV series)
* 1978: ''{{Interlanguage link|Polizeiruf 110: Die letzte Chance|de}}'' (TV series)
* 1979: ''{{Interlanguage link|Polizeiruf 110: Am Abgrund|de}}'' (TV series) – producer: [Hans Werner](/source/%3Ade%3AHans_Werner_(Regisseur))
* 1980: ''[Archiv des Todes](/source/Archiv_des_Todes)'' – producer: [Rudi Kurz](/source/%3Ade%3ARudi_Kurz)

'''Documentary films (Narrator)'''
* 1954–1956: ''Du und mancher Kamerad'' – producer: [Annelie](/source/%3Ade%3AAnnelie_Thorndike) and [Andrew Thorndike](/source/Andrew_Thorndike)
* 1962: ''Unbändiges Spanien'' – producer: [Kurt](/source/%3Ade%3AKurt_Stern_(Schriftsteller)) and [Jeanne Stern](/source/%3Ade%3AJeanne_Stern)
{{div col end}}

== Theatre (selection) ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 1952: [Nikolai Pogodin](/source/Nikolai_Pogodin): ''Das Glockenspiel des Kreml'' (Sabelins Frau) – producer: [Ernst Busch](/source/%3Ade%3AErnst_Busch_(Schauspieler)) ([Berliner Ensemble](/source/Berliner_Ensemble))
* 1953: [Heinar Kipphardt](/source/Heinar_Kipphardt): ''Shakespeare dringend gesucht'' (Frau Mellin) – producer: [Herwart Grosse](/source/%3Ade%3AHerwart_Grosse)  ([Deutsches Theater Berlin](/source/%3Ade%3ADeutsches_Theater_(Berlin)) – Kammerspiele)
* 1953: [Julius Hays](/source/%3Ade%3AJulius_Hays): ''Der Putenhirt'' – producer: [Fritz Wendel](/source/%3Ade%3AFritz_Wendel_(Schauspieler)) (Deutsches Theater Berlin – Kammerspiele)
* 1953: [Friedrich Wolf](/source/Friedrich_Wolf_(writer)): ''Thomas Müntzer, der Mann mit der Regenbogenfahne'' (Mutter) – producer: [Wolfgang Langhoff](/source/Wolfgang_Langhoff) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1955: [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](/source/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe): ''[Faust. The Tragedy, Part I](/source/%3Ade%3AFaust._Eine_Trag%C3%B6die)'' – producer: Wolfgang Langhoff (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1955: [Johann Nestroy](/source/Johann_Nestroy): ''[Theaterg’schichten](/source/%3Ade%3ATheaterg%E2%80%99schichten)'' (Katharina) – producer: [Emil Stöhr](/source/%3Ade%3AEmil_St%C3%B6hr) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1955: [Gerhart Hauptmann](/source/Gerhart_Hauptmann): ''[Vor Sonnenuntergang](/source/Vor_Sonnenuntergang)'' (Mutter Peters) – producer: [Wolfgang Heinz](/source/%3Ade%3AWolfgang_Heinz_(Schauspieler)) (Deutsches Theater Berlin) 
* 1956: [Hermann Bahr](/source/Hermann_Bahr): ''Das Konzert'' (Almhütten-Verwalterin) – producer: [Robert Meyn](/source/%3Ade%3ARobert_Meyn) (Deutsches Theater Berlin – Kammerspiele)
* 1957: [Mary Chase](/source/Mary_Chase_(playwright)): ''[Mein Freund Harvey](/source/%3Ade%3AMein_Freund_Harvey)'' (Veta) – producer: [Wolfgang Thal](/source/%3Ade%3AWolfgang_Thal) (Deutsches Theater Berlin – Kammerspiele)
* 1958: [Anton Tschechow](/source/%3Ade%3AAnton_Pawlowitsch_Tschechow): ''[Three sisters](/source/%3Ade%3ADrei_Schwestern_(Drama))'' – producer: [Heinz Hilpert](/source/Heinz_Hilpert) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1960: [Erwin Strittmatter](/source/Erwin_Strittmatter): ''Die Holländerbraut'' – producer: [Benno Besson](/source/Benno_Besson) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1961: [Pavel Kohout](/source/Pavel_Kohout): ''Die dritte Schwester'' – producer: [Karl Paryla](/source/Karl_Paryla) (Deutsches Theater Berlin – Kammerspiele)
* 1962: Nikolai Pogodin: ''Der Mann mit dem Gewehr'' (Jelisaweta Nikitischna) – producer: [Horst Schönemann](/source/%3Ade%3AHorst_Sch%C3%B6nemann) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1962: [Peter Hacks](/source/Peter_Hacks) (after [Aristophanes](/source/Aristophanes)): ''[Der Frieden](/source/%3Ade%3ADer_Frieden)'' (Trygaios Tochter) – producer: Benno Besson (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1963: [Sean O'Casey](/source/Sean_O'Casey): ''Rote Rosen für mich'' (Frau Breydon) – producer: [Ernst Kahler](/source/%3Ade%3AErnst_Kahler) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1964: [Molière](/source/Moli%C3%A8re): ''[Tartuffe](/source/Tartuffe)'' (Madame Pernelle) – producer: Benno Besson (Deutsches Theater Berlin – Kammerspiele)
* 1967: [Horst Salomon](/source/Horst_Salomon): ''Ein Lorbaß'' – producer: Benno Besson (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1968: [Hermann Kant](/source/Hermann_Kant): ''Die Aula'' – producer: [Uta Birnbaum](/source/%3Ade%3AUta_Birnbaum) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
* 1975: [Heinrich von Kleist](/source/Heinrich_von_Kleist): ''[Der zerbrochne Krug](/source/Der_zerbrochne_Krug)'' (Brigitte) – producer: [Adolf Dresen](/source/%3Ade%3AAdolf_Dresen) (Deutsches Theater Berlin)
{{div col end}}

== Awards and honours ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 1955: [Clara Zetkin Medal](/source/Clara_Zetkin_Medal)
* 1960: [Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic](/source/Art_Prize_of_the_German_Democratic_Republic)
* 1963: [Patriotic Order of Merit](/source/Patriotic_Order_of_Merit) in Bronze
* 1969: [National Prize of the German Democratic Republic](/source/National_Prize_of_the_German_Democratic_Republic) 2nd Class, for arts and literature
* 1978: [Patriotic Order of Merit](/source/Patriotic_Order_of_Merit) in Gold
* 1983: [Patriotic Order of Merit](/source/Patriotic_Order_of_Merit) Gold clasp
* 1985: [Wolfgang Heinz Ring](/source/%3Ade%3AWolfgang-Heinz-Ring)
* 1988: [Star of People's Friendship](/source/Star_of_People's_Friendship) in Gold
{{div col end}}
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==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Danegger, Mathilde}}
Category:1903 births
Category:1988 deaths
Category:Actresses from Vienna
Category:Communist Party of Germany members
Category:Socialist Unity Party of Germany members
Category:Austrian stage actresses
Category:German stage actresses
Category:Austrian film actresses
Category:German film actresses
Category:Emigrants from Nazi Germany to Switzerland
Category:Recipients of the National Prize of East Germany
Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit (honor clasp)
Category:Radio actresses
Category:Austrian emigrants to East Germany
Category:20th-century German women

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mathilde Danegger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilde_Danegger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilde_Danegger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.