The Family

"You are a war criminal and I do not ever want to see you again!' Rolf to his estranged communist father after the 1953 East German uprising against communism.

Chapter III - The Family

This chapter outlines the family structure which ultimately would end in Germany when Dieter's mother died. He, as the last living member, now carries on the line in the United States with his two children and three granddaughters.

Rolf has documents tracing his mother's side of the family back to 1820. Nazi era documents going back to the 16th century to prove Aryan purity were lost during the war.

Franz Grothe - Composer, Conductor and Television Personality

The dominent father figure in Rolf's life. Their relationship was very close and Rolf spent most of his free time in Bad Wiessee. After his graduation and subsequent love affair with Karin the two of them would virtually live at Franz' house. Although strongly opposed to Rolf's plans, he had respect for Rolf's quest for independence and desire to explore the world. He did everything in his power to keep the two of them together and offered them lifetime security, a house and a car.

On September 16, 1982 Franz was conducting the Cologne Symphony Orchestra, something he loved to do. He collapsed and died two days later.

In 1978 German Television put on a big show for Franz' 70th birthday party. In the following video excerpt from that show Franz is on the piano playing one of his most famous compositions 'Illusion', a hauntingly beautiful song.

Franz had been associated with the long running TV series "Zum Blauen Bock" since it started in 1957. The following video was shot shortly before his death

Kirsten and Franz at their Berlin Apartment

The picture apparently was taken sometime late 1938/early 1939, shortly after their marriage. They bought a house in Schlachtensee shortly after.

Kirsten Heiberg - Official UFA Picture

Kirsten at the height of her German movie career. She was a versatile performer and aside from acting sang and danced her way through a number of films. She attempted a comeback in Norway after the war but never really reached the stardom she had in Germany.

Rosie and Fritz at Lake Zurich with baby lion - 1955

The following story outlines the political upheavals in East Germany which directly resulted in the final split between Rolf and his Father. Their relationship had never been close, but when Rolf found out he was a communist he cut all ties.

June 17, 1953 - Again there are Russian Tanks in the Streets of Berlin

Cobblestones against Soviet Raw Power

Millions took to the Streets in East Germany's major Cities to no avail - They would be oppressed for another 36 Years

Accompanied by the first movement of Schostakovich 11th Symphony this video shows some of the brave demonstrations of the oppressed East Germans on June 17th, 1953. Two days later their attempts to gain freedom was crushed by Russian Tanks. It would be over 36 years before Germany was re-united as a free member of the European Union.

Rosie as a young actress

Rolf's mother was on stage from the time she turned 15 years old. She was trained at a well known school and was proficient in dancing, including Ballet. By the time she turned 20 she was a movie star. It came as a natural progress with the whole family being in the limelight. Her mother and 2 of her aunts were famous opera singers. Her older sister was an actress, so was Hilde. Rolf's father was a movie poducer and Franz by that time already was the dominent force in Germany for writing movie scores and leading a Symphony orchestra.

Rolf was expected to follow those footsteps, received early training on the grand piano and in Ballet, but fought all the way. It was an early indication of the fierce independence he would display for the rest of his life. His only exposure was his appearance in a Richard Widmark movie, filmed in Berlin, which Rolf actually enjoyed. Franz put a stop to it as he did not want him to get involved in acting.

Rosie on Stage in Berlin

Rosie on the Bodensee

Rosie spent her early school years living by this beautiful lake in southwestern Germany.

Rosie on Location for 'Reited fuer Deutschland"

Rosie Studio Picture

Rosie's first marriage to Herbert - 1940

The short-lived marriage was doomed from the beginning. Rosie was barely nineteen years old, a star and wealthy. Her career came to a sudden halt; and because of the war never really took off again.

Rosie's second marriage
to Fritz - 1946

Berlin lay in ruins - Rosie wanted to get married. They managed to get a car somewhere and permission to drive it, as it was still illegal to own or drive a vehicle. There also was no fuel available. Franz (in foreground) was the best man. Such luxuries were pretty much resented by the general population of Berlin, which was still trying to dig out and find shelter.

Fritz and Franz on Matterhorn Strasse

When Franz came to Berlin he would spend most of his time in Schlachtensee but always sleep in a hotel until he replaced the old mansion. He would have a suite in the new building, which Rolf almost moved into after he left Texas in 1994. His mother told him to come back, as the house was almost empty. Rolf could live very nicely in Schlachtensee without any housing or car expenses.

The pictures of Rosie and her with Rolf's Cingo were taken by Rolf in 1955. Rosie and Fritz in 1946.

Cingo did not really want to do this, but would obey any command from Rolf completely. Only Karin later on would be totally accepted by the dog, who stopped eating when Rolf left Berlin and had to be put down.

Bertha Grothe - Franz' Mother 1957

Bertha was an eccentric woman. Like her sister Rita she was very small of stature. She also had been an opera singer in her youth. Bertha was an alcoholic and would drink rum with sugar cubes all day long. At night she would generally go to a local pub and treat everyone for drinks. Franz paid all her expenses but she never once went to his house in Bad Wiessee. Here she is pictured with Rolf's 'Cingo' and Rolf's mother's Spitz 'Candy'.

A beautiful Album

Rolf has a dedicated copy of this. The album contains some of the most beautiful semi classical music he had written.

Oma Rita - New Years Eve 1953

In the big country kitchen across the hall from Rolf's apartment. It was traditional to melt little lead figurines in a spoon over gas and throw them into cold water where they would turn into strange looking sculptures.The next day a fortune teller would come and read the future for everyone from these figures.

Christmas 1955

Fritz lighting a Cigarette on the candles on the tree. As a tradition the tree always had real candles on it which were lit Christmas Eve for present exchange at midnight, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve, and St. Nicholas Day (January 6) for the last time. The tree would be removed the following day. That procedure was followed by Rolfs mother until her death. There never would be electric candles. At the Isolde Strasse apartment with it's high ceilings the trees in the later years were huge with 144 candles on it that took a couple of hours to light.

The Henchel Clan gathers in the mid-30ties

Rita and Bertha in the back. The officer in uniform was killed in action during the Polish campaign in 1939.

Album Cover for 2001 90th Birthday Release

Franz as Conductor of the Cologne Symphony Orchestra

Franz with "Foofle" in 1952

There is a fascinating history to this picture - Rolf took it on Franz' terrace along with some others. This one was send to his former wife with a birthday greeting and found by someone doing research on Kirsten Heiberg in Trondheim, Norway in 2011 and send back to Rolf - almost 60 years later!