Hanns Eisler.

Born 6 Jul 1898 Leipzig, Germany

Died 6 Sep 1962 East Berlin

Citizenship Austria

Would Be 127 yr If Living

8 min read

Reading time

1,578

Words

Jun 21, 2026

Published

Film credit

Books

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TL;DR

Hanns Eisler wrote the national anthem of East Germany, ‘Auferstanden aus Ruinen, and was deported from the United States in 1947 after testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. A composer and lyricist, he collaborated with Bertolt Brecht on multiple works and created scores for Hollywood films including ‘Hangmen Also Die!. Tensions with East German authorities arose over his avant-garde music, despite his official recognition with the National Prize of East Germany.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of Hanns Eisler — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases G. Eisler, H. Eisler, Hans Eisler, Gans Eysler

PARENTS: Rudolf Eisler
SPOUSES: Stephanie Wolf Louise Jolesch Charlotte Demant
CHILDREN: Georg Eisler
SIBLINGS: Gerhart Eisler Ruth Fischer

At a glance.

STATS

Hanns Eisler by the numbers — life, work, and family.

64 Years lived

1 Film credit

3 Books

1 Award

3 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Hanns Eisler?

BIOGRAPHY

Hanns Eisler — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Leipzig, Germany welcomed Hanns Eisler on July 6, 1898. He grew up in a politically active family; his father, Rudolf Eisler, was a philosopher, and his siblings Gerhart Eisler and Ruth Fischer became prominent communist figures. Eisler studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where his formal training as a composer began. Early exposure to Marxist thought through his family shaped his ideological and artistic direction.

Career

Eisler’s career took shape in the 1920s as he joined the German Communist Party in 1926 and began composing political music. He collaborated with playwright Bertolt Brecht, creating songs for plays and films such as The Mother 1932 and Kuhle Wampe 1932. In Hollywood, he composed scores for films including Hangmen Also Die! 1943 and None But the Lonely Heart 1944. His most famous composition, Auferstanden aus Ruinen, became the national anthem of East Germany in 1949. His avant-garde style led to conflicts with East German authorities, culminating in his 1952 announcement that he no longer wished to compose.

Personal life

Eisler married three times: to Charlotte Demant from 1920 to 1934, to Louise Jolesch from 1937 to 1955, and to Stephanie Wolf from 1958 until his death in 1962. He had one son, painter Georg Eisler. Sibling relationships were fraught: sister Ruth Fischer became an anti-Stalinist who outed brother Gerhart as a Comintern agent, leading to a public split. His political affiliations led to deportation from the United States and expulsion from Great Britain, and he eventually settled in East Berlin.

Legacy

Eisler composed East Germany’s national anthem, anchoring his legacy in a symbol of a divided nation. His works for Brecht and his Hollywood scores are studied for their integration of political message and musical innovation. The Hanns Eisler Prize and the Eisler Archives in Berlin preserve his contributions. Official honors like the National Prize of East Germany came despite the suppression of his avant-garde music by Communist authorities. He bridged classical tradition and political activism, leaving a complex legacy questioned by both East and West.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of Hanns Eisler — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux

2003

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Hanns Eisler — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

National Prize of East Germany

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 3

Hanns Eisler's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Composing for the Films

by Hanns Eisler
Amazon

A Rebel in Music

by Hanns Eisler
Amazon

Komposition Für Den Film

by Theodor W. Adorno et al.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 1

A wall of memorable lines from Hanns Eisler — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Someone Who Knows Only Music, Understands Nothing About It.

Did you know?

FACTS · 6

Little-known facts about Hanns Eisler — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Eisler joined the German Communist Party in 1926 but later claimed to the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 that he was never active. His brother Gerhart Eisler was reportedly the USSR’s top intelligence agent in the US during World War II, while sister Ruth Fischer, a co-founder of the Austrian Communist Party, turned against the party and exposed Gerhart. Eisler sided with his brother and denounced his sister. Dubbed The Karl Marx of Music, he was deported from the United States and expelled from Great Britain before settling in East Germany alongside Bertolt Brecht.
The anti-communist investigations led by Parnell Thomas drove Eisler out of Hollywood after his 1947 HUAC testimony.
Eisler composed the East German national anthem Auferstanden aus Ruinen in 1949.
Though Eisler received official honors like the National Prize of East Germany, his avant-garde compositions were rejected by Communist authorities. He often escaped to West Berlin bars until the Berlin Wall in 1961 ended those trips.
After deportation from the US and expulsion from the UK, Eisler settled in Vienna before moving to East Berlin in 1950 as a professor at the German Academy of Music. His work Faustus was condemned by the East German Communist Party, leading him to announce in 1952 that he no longer wished to compose.
His son, Georg Eisler, became a noted painter.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 26

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Hanns Eisler.

When was Hanns Eisler born?

Hanns Eisler was born on July 6, 1898. He was born in Leipzig, Germany, to father Rudolf Eisler. His birth in the late 19th century positioned him to witness both world wars and the rise of communism.
Where was Hanns Eisler born?

Hanns Eisler was born in Leipzig, Germany. Leipzig is a major city in Saxony with a rich musical tradition. His birth there influenced his early exposure to music.
When did Hanns Eisler die?

Hanns Eisler died on September 6, 1962. He was 64 years old at the time of his death. He died in East Berlin, German Democratic Republic.
How old was Hanns Eisler when he died?

Hanns Eisler was 64 years old when he died on September 6, 1962. He lived through two world wars and major political upheavals. His death marked the end of a prolific but controversial career.
Where did Hanns Eisler die?

Hanns Eisler died in East Berlin, the capital of the German Democratic Republic. He had settled there after being deported from the United States. His death was due to a heart attack.
How did Hanns Eisler die?

Hanns Eisler died of a heart attack. He passed away on September 6, 1962, in East Berlin. The heart attack was sudden, though he had faced political and professional stress.
What does Hanns Eisler do for a living?

Hanns Eisler was a composer, music crew member, and actor. He is best known as a composer of film scores and political music. He also appeared as himself in archival footage in documentaries.
What nationality is Hanns Eisler?

Hanns Eisler held Austrian citizenship. He was born in Germany but later became an Austrian citizen. He also lived and worked in the United States and East Germany.
What language does Hanns Eisler speak?

Hanns Eisler’s native language was German. He conducted his work in German and English during his time in Hollywood. His lyrics and compositions were primarily in German.
Who are Hanns Eisler's parents?

Hanns Eisler’s father was Rudolf Eisler, a philosopher. His mother is not widely documented. Rudolf Eisler’s intellectual influence shaped Hanns’s early thinking.
Who was Hanns Eisler married to?

Hanns Eisler was married three times. His first wife was Charlotte Demant, from August 31, 1920 to 1934. He then married Louise Jolesch from December 7, 1937 to March 1955, and finally Stephanie Wolf from June 26, 1958 until his death on September 6, 1962.
Did Hanns Eisler have children?

Yes, Hanns Eisler had one son, Georg Eisler, who became a noted painter. Georg Eisler was born from his relationship with Charlotte Demant. He carried on his father’s artistic legacy in visual arts.
Does Hanns Eisler have any siblings?

Yes, Hanns Eisler had two siblings: Gerhart Eisler and Ruth Fischer. Gerhart was a high-ranking Comintern agent, while Ruth was a communist leader who later turned against Stalinism. Their political activities deeply affected Hanns’s life.
Where did Hanns Eisler go to school?

Hanns Eisler studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. This institution provided his formal training in composition.
What awards has Hanns Eisler won?

Hanns Eisler won the National Prize of East Germany. This was a major state honor in the German Democratic Republic. He received it for his contributions to music and culture.
How many major awards did Hanns Eisler win?

Hanns Eisler won one major award: the National Prize of East Germany. He also received two award nominations for his film scores, according to available records.
What is Hanns Eisler best known for?

Hanns Eisler is best known for composing the East German national anthem Auferstanden aus Ruinen. He also scored Hollywood films such as Hangmen Also Die! and None But the Lonely Heart, and appeared in the documentary Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux.
What aliases did Hanns Eisler use?

Hanns Eisler used several aliases including G. Eisler, H. Eisler, Hans Eisler, and Gans Eysler. These variations appeared in different publications and contexts, sometimes to avoid political scrutiny.
What was Hanns Eisler known for?

Hanns Eisler was known for his film scores for Le grand jeu, Hangmen Also Die!, None But the Lonely Heart, and Gasparone, as well as his political songs and the East German national anthem.
How many award nominations did Hanns Eisler receive?

Hanns Eisler received two award nominations for his film scores. The specific awards are not widely documented, but they reflect his impact on cinema music.
What national anthem did Hanns Eisler compose?

Hanns Eisler composed the East German national anthem, Auferstanden aus Ruinen, in 1949. The lyrics were written by Johannes R. Becher. The anthem was used until German reunification in 1990.
Why was Hanns Eisler deported from the United States?

Hanns Eisler was deported from the United States after his 1947 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he was deemed an unfriendly witness. His communist affiliations and family ties to Soviet agents led to his expulsion.
Who was Bertolt Brecht to Hanns Eisler?

Bertolt Brecht was a close friend and frequent collaborator of Hanns Eisler. They worked together on plays, films, and songs, and socialized together in Hollywood. Brecht also settled in East Germany after the war.
Why did Hanns Eisler stop composing in 1952?

Hanns Eisler announced in 1952 that he no longer wished to compose after his work Faustus was attacked by the East German Communist Party. The party condemned the piece for being too avant-garde and politically ambiguous.
How did the Berlin Wall affect Hanns Eisler?

The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 cut short Hanns Eisler’s trips to West Berlin for bar-hopping. He had been slipping away from East Berlin to relax in the Allied sectors, a practice that became impossible after the wall.
What award did Hanns Eisler receive?

Hanns Eisler received the National Prize of East Germany, one of the highest honors in the German Democratic Republic. It recognized his musical contributions to the state.

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Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on June 21, 2026

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