Presley in Germany
The rock legend Elvis Presley (1935—1977) spent two years in Germany as an army soldier and remains a cultural icon for the German nation even in 2005. In October 1958 Presley landed by boat in the German port of Bremerhaven to serve with the U.S.
Army. When he arrived, he was greeted by hundreds of German fans eager to catch a glimpse of the young rock ’n’ roll star. Although the reception was enthusiastic, it was a relatively calm one in comparison to the mayhem that had followed him in the United States. The German rock ’n’ roll scene at the time was flourishing with its own stars such as Ted Herold. Yet the presence of Presley in the country sparked an interest in the American performer, whose reputation for risque stage moves and interest in women preceded him.Presley spent nearly two years serving as a tank scout at the American base in Friedberg. He rose to the rank of sergeant before he was discharged in March 1960. While on base, Presley insisted that he be treated just like any other soldier. Yet the star enjoyed a few privileges. He was allowed to live off base with his family, as well as various members of the “Memphis Mafia” who accompanied Elvis throughout his career. In addition, Presley was allowed to travel home for lunch in order to eat the Southern cooking of his grandmother, Millie Mae. The entourage initially stayed at two different hotels in the area, which they were asked to leave because of rowdy behavior and the constant flood of fans. The group finally rented a home from Maria Pieper in Bad Neuheim. While the fans continued to wait for autographs, the group settled into the home at Goethe- straβe 14, where Presley spent most of his evenings visiting and performing with friends.
With respect to his singing career, Presley’s stay in Germany was quiet, because he never performed in public and gave only two interviews during his entire
Elvis Presley during his army tour guiding memorial lift, Steinfurth, Germany, April 17, 1959.
(Bettmann/Corbis)stay. Yet both American and German publications chronicled his every move. For example, after Elvis and fellow soldiers gave blood at a local Red Cross station, the German teen magazine Bravo was inundated by requests from fans wanting to buy a portion of Presley’s donation. On a personal level, the stay in Germany had a profound influence on Presley. First, he trained with Jurgen Seydel, the father of German karate, a sport he would continue in the United States and a style he would incorporate into his wardrobe and moves on stage. Second, it was in Germany that he met the then fourteen-year-old American Priscilla Beaulieu, who would be his future bride. Priscilla was not the only woman Elvis dated in Germany, and her parents, just like the others, had to be convinced by a personal visit from Elvis that their daughter would be safe visiting the star. Finally, insiders report that during the long days of maneuvers and two trips to the Paris burlesque club, Moulin Rouge, Elvis and his entourage became addicted to barbiturates (Mansfield 2002).
Presley’s cultural effect on Germany is probably best measured after his time in the U.S. Army. Although ninety records were released onto the German market, only one song made it to number one on the German hit charts. The song “In the Ghetto” hit the mark for two weeks in July 1969. In 2005, the phenomenon of Elvis as an iconic figure is his most important legacy in Germany. In his temporary
hometown of Bad Neuheim, a yearly European Elvis festival is held, and Friedberg boasts a town square named after the rock 'n roll star. A number of German- produced documentaries chronicle his life and cult status, and Germany even has several Elvis impersonators and Elvis tribute bands.
Elise Brayton Mueller
See also GIs in West Germany; U.S. Bases in West Germany
References and Further Reading
Mansfield, Rex. Sergeant Presley: Our Untold- Story of Elvis’ Missing Years. Toronto: ECW, 2002.
Schroer, Andreas. Private Presley: The Missing Years, Elvis in Germany. New York: Morrow, 1993.