Curd Jürgens and his Passports

Curd Jürgens Passports
A Tale of Identity and Survival Curd Jürgens Passports

Curd Jürgens, born on December 13, 1915, in Munich, Germany, remains one of the most recognizable figures in European cinema. With a career spanning over 150 films, including classics such as The Devil’s General (1955), The Enemy Below (1957), and the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Jürgens was known for his aristocratic charm and commanding on-screen presence. However, his life off-screen tells a fascinating story of citizenship, identity, and survival during one of Europe’s most turbulent eras.

While born a German citizen, Jürgens became an Austrian citizen in 1935, years before Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. His move to Vienna was both personal and professional, as the city offered a vibrant cultural scene and a sense of creative freedom. By adopting Austrian citizenship, Jürgens distanced himself from the rising extremism in Germany, hoping to build a career in a more neutral artistic environment. Curd Jürgens Passports

He made his film debut in 1935 in the operetta film “Königswalzer”, produced by UFA, alongside Carola Höhn, Paul Hörbiger, and Willi Forst.[5] In 1936, he appeared on stage for the first time in a production of “Ball der Nationen” at the Dresden Central Theater and the Berlin Metropol Theater.

After completing filming for “Wiener Mädeln” in September 1944, he unknowingly got into a conflict at a Viennese restaurant with Robert Kaltenbrunner (brother of Gestapo chief Ernst Kaltenbrunner), SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, and an associate of Baldur von Schirach. A few days later, he received a call-up order but was not drafted into the Wehrmacht. Instead, he was labeled “politically unreliable” and sent to a labor camp. After a few weeks, he managed to escape and thus evade further persecution.

The Anschluss Curd Jürgens Passports

However, following the Anschluss (Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938), Austrians were forcibly integrated into the German Reich, and Austrian citizenship effectively became void. In 1941, under the Nazi regime, Curd Jürgens was issued a German passport. Whether this was done willingly or under duress remains unclear, but it symbolized the inescapable reach of the Nazi state into the lives of individuals, even those who had previously sought refuge in Austria.

Arrest

Despite holding a German passport, Jürgens did not align himself with Nazi ideology. His critical stance against National Socialism became known, and in 1944, he was arrested and sent to a Hungarian labor camp after being labeled “politically unreliable” by Nazi authorities. Though he was released before the end of the war, this experience deeply affected him and further solidified his disdain for authoritarian regimes.

After World War II, Jürgens reclaimed his Austrian citizenship and settled in Vienna, which remained his primary home until his death. With Austria’s status as a neutral country during the Cold War, his Austrian passport allowed him greater flexibility to work internationally. However, the fact that he once held a German passport remained a historical footnote—a reminder of the political complexities forced upon individuals during times of war. Curd Jürgens Passports

Jürgens’ passports symbolize more than just travel documents—they tell a story of shifting identities, survival, and a personal resistance to political oppression. Despite holding passports from two nations that were once unified under an authoritarian regime, Jürgens transcended these national labels. He considered himself, first and foremost, a European and often expressed his belief in cultural and artistic unity over nationalism.

In one famous anecdote, when confronted about his mixed citizenship status by an official, Jürgens is said to have remarked:
“A passport is a piece of paper. My allegiance is to art, to Europe, and to freedom.”

Curd Jürgens’ story is not just one of cinematic brilliance but also of resilience in the face of historical upheaval. His Austrian and German passports remain symbolic artifacts of a life lived across borders, shaped by art, politics, and an unyielding commitment to personal integrity. He passed away on June 18, 1982, in Vienna.

In 1997, Margie Jürgens, the widow of Curd Jürgens, entrusted his artistic estate to the Deutsches Filmmuseum in Frankfurt am Main.

The Passports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passports of German celebrities are pretty rare to find. Unlike those from the USA, which can be found often at classic auction houses.

 

Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
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