Hermann Leopoldi's Real Name: Hersch Kohn

Quick answer: Hermann Leopoldi was born Hersch Kohn on August 15, 1888, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. His family officially changed its surname to Leopoldi in 1911. A beloved Viennese cabaret composer, he survived the Nazi concentration camps of Dachau and Buchenwald and died in Vienna on June 28, 1959 (Wien Geschichte Wiki; Austrian Music Encyclopedia).

The name change

His father, musician Leopold Kohn, performed as Leopold Leopoldi, a stage name based on his first name. In 1911 the family made Leopoldi their official surname, and Hersch became known as Hermann Leopoldi. His father taught him piano and found him his first jobs as an accompanist and bar pianist.

Cabaret star

Leopoldi married Eugenie Kraus in 1911 and served in World War I, where he became known as a troop entertainer. His first major appearance was at Vienna's Ronacher theater in 1916. In 1922 he and his brother Ferdinand opened the Kabarett Leopoldi-Wiesenthal, which featured performers such as Hans Moser and Fritz Grünbaum. After it closed in 1925, he toured Europe with singer Betja Milskaja.

He composed many classic Wienerlieder (Viennese songs), often setting lyrics by Peter Herz and Fritz Löhner-Beda. They include "In einem kleinen Café in Hernals" and "Schön ist so ein Ringelspiel."

Dachau and Buchenwald

After Nazi Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, Leopoldi and his family tried to flee by train, but the Czechoslovak border had already closed. He was arrested on April 26, 1938, and deported to Dachau, then Buchenwald. In Buchenwald he wrote the music for the "Buchenwaldlied" (Buchenwald Song), with lyrics by Fritz Löhner-Beda, who was later murdered at Auschwitz. In 1939 his wife secured his release with an affidavit from relatives in the U.S., and he emigrated to New York (Wien Geschichte Wiki).

America and return

In New York he performed for the émigré community, often with singer Helly Möslein, who later became his second wife. He returned to Vienna in 1947 and performed again until his death in 1959. His son Ronald Leopoldi has worked to preserve his legacy, and the 2023 biopic Leopoldi: Ein Lied für dich told his story.