Blonde German actor Heinz Ohlsen (1922-1999) appeared as a young man in a handful of German films of the early war years. Ten years later he continued his career with a few more film roles.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, nr. G 146, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
Heinz Ohlsen was born as Heinz Gustav Hans Oehlschlager in Berlin, Germany, in 1922.
The handsome blonde boy started his career in 1940 with bit parts in the comedies Zwei Welten/Two Worlds (Gustaf Gründgens, 1949) and Der Kleinstadtpoet/Poet of a Small Town (Josef von Báky, 1940) with Paul Kemp.
The following year he played a young Irishman in the Nazi-made anti-British propaganda film Mein Leben für Irland/My Life for Ireland (Max W. Kimmich, 1941) starring Anna Dammann and René Deltgen.
Set in an English boarding school, Mein Leben für Irland tells of the Irish revolt against British domination. The sons of Irish rebels are sent to an English school to become good British patriots, but they secretly await the day they can fight for their country’s independence against the British, who are depicted as treacherous oppressors bent on world hegemony.
Mein Leben für Irland was aimed largely at the Hitlerjugend market and was directed with assurance by Max Kimmich, who happened to be Joseph Goebbels’ brother-in-law.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Ross-Verlag, no. A 3203/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Haenchen / Tobis.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. A 3456/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. A 3562/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz, Berlin.
That same year Heinz Ohlsen played the son of Willy Fritsch in Leichte Muse/Easy Muse (Arthur Maria Rabenalt, 1941).
He appeared opposite another famous actor, Heinrich George, in the romantic drama Schicksal/Fate (Géza von Bolváry, 1942).
After this film, the film career of the still very young actor would be interrupted for nearly a decade. He probably had to join the German army but there is no information on the internet about this period in his life.
Eight years later Ohlsen returned to the screen in the short Amor am Steuer/Love at the Wheel (Günther Hassert, 1950) with Sonja Masur.
The following year he played a supporting part in the crime film Grenzstation 58/Boundary Station 58 (Harry Hasso, 1951) starring Hansi Knoteck and Mady Rahl.
His last film role was a supporting part in the Heinz Rühmanncomedy Der eiserne Gustav/The Iron Gustav (Georg Hurdalek, 1958). Based on a true event the film shows a coachman taking a journey from Berlin to Paris in 1928.
Heinz Ohlsen died in 1999. He was 76, but we did not find more information about him.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Ross-Verlag, no. A 3242/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz / Tobis.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no A 3697/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz, Berlin.
![Heinz Ohlsen]()
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. G 107, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
Sources: Thomas Staedeli (Cyranos), International Historic Films and IMDb.
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, nr. G 146, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
The Hitlerjugend Market
Heinz Ohlsen was born as Heinz Gustav Hans Oehlschlager in Berlin, Germany, in 1922.
The handsome blonde boy started his career in 1940 with bit parts in the comedies Zwei Welten/Two Worlds (Gustaf Gründgens, 1949) and Der Kleinstadtpoet/Poet of a Small Town (Josef von Báky, 1940) with Paul Kemp.
The following year he played a young Irishman in the Nazi-made anti-British propaganda film Mein Leben für Irland/My Life for Ireland (Max W. Kimmich, 1941) starring Anna Dammann and René Deltgen.
Set in an English boarding school, Mein Leben für Irland tells of the Irish revolt against British domination. The sons of Irish rebels are sent to an English school to become good British patriots, but they secretly await the day they can fight for their country’s independence against the British, who are depicted as treacherous oppressors bent on world hegemony.
Mein Leben für Irland was aimed largely at the Hitlerjugend market and was directed with assurance by Max Kimmich, who happened to be Joseph Goebbels’ brother-in-law.
German postcard by Ross-Verlag, no. A 3203/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Haenchen / Tobis.
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. A 3456/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. A 3562/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz, Berlin.
Love at the Wheel
That same year Heinz Ohlsen played the son of Willy Fritsch in Leichte Muse/Easy Muse (Arthur Maria Rabenalt, 1941).
He appeared opposite another famous actor, Heinrich George, in the romantic drama Schicksal/Fate (Géza von Bolváry, 1942).
After this film, the film career of the still very young actor would be interrupted for nearly a decade. He probably had to join the German army but there is no information on the internet about this period in his life.
Eight years later Ohlsen returned to the screen in the short Amor am Steuer/Love at the Wheel (Günther Hassert, 1950) with Sonja Masur.
The following year he played a supporting part in the crime film Grenzstation 58/Boundary Station 58 (Harry Hasso, 1951) starring Hansi Knoteck and Mady Rahl.
His last film role was a supporting part in the Heinz Rühmanncomedy Der eiserne Gustav/The Iron Gustav (Georg Hurdalek, 1958). Based on a true event the film shows a coachman taking a journey from Berlin to Paris in 1928.
Heinz Ohlsen died in 1999. He was 76, but we did not find more information about him.
German postcard by Ross-Verlag, no. A 3242/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz / Tobis.
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no A 3697/1, 1941-1944. Photo: Binz, Berlin.
German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, no. G 107, 1941-1944. Photo: Star-Foto-Atelier / Tobis.
Sources: Thomas Staedeli (Cyranos), International Historic Films and IMDb.