A fake billboard can be seen out the window, advertising the film Der Schmerz Bitterer Tränen, starring Zarah Leander and Bridget von Hammersmark. Specifically, Leander’s face is visible. This fake film title might be a reference to the R.W. Fassbinder film Die Bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant from 1972. (via Hyperreality in ‘Inglourious Basterds’: Tarantino’s Interwoven Cinematic World in 1940s France)

Zarah Leander - “Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh’n”

In 1942, in the midst of a burning war, Leander scored the two biggest hits of her recording career - in her signature deep voice, she sang her anthems of hope and survival: “Davon geht die Welt nicht unter” (‘That is not the end of the world’) and “Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh’n” (‘I know that someday a miracle will happen’). These two songs in particular are often included in contemporary documentaries as obvious examples of effective Nazi propaganda at work; however, it should also be noted that Leander’s performance on these tracks, along with countless other hits she had all over Europe, struck a chord with the German people.

(Source: youtube.com)

Nina Hagen. “Ich weiss, es wird einmal ein Wunder geschehen.” (1983). Cover of Zarah Leander.

(Source: youtube.com)