Stierlitz

Max Otto von Stierlitz ( in Russian original: Макс Отто фон Штирлиц ) is the heroic protagonist of a Russian book series written by Julian Semyonov, and a Soviet television series of the 1970s ( Seventeen Moments of Spring ). Thematically, the adventures of Stierlitz are based on the Nazi period and partly the Cold War. The film version ( 1973) ( Original title: Семнадцать мгновений весны ) makes the main actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov immortal for many Russians. On 8 February 2008, he celebrated his 80th birthday and was honored in the Russian television with a special program.

Background

Some of the Stierlitz books are based on current events. For example, it prevented with top SS officers a U.S. plan to rid postwar Germany from the Soviet zone of occupation.

There are rumors that the author Semyonov, himself a KGB agent was because of his deep insight into the institution. As Semyonov published his first work, he might have tried to supplement the tarnished reputation of the KGB, who had suffered under Stalin's excesses. By Stierlitz ' popularity of the KGB has gained lots of shine.

Stierlitz ' Russian Name Maksim Isaev Maksimowitsch ( Максим Максимович Исаев ) is revealed in the television series Seventeen Moments of Spring, but even that is an alias. The real name of Vsevolod Vladimirovich Vladimirov Stierlitz is.

Stierlitz was considered ideal KGB agent: born in Russia, consistently enough to bring his mission to the end, cultured family and all European languages ​​except Irish and Albanian speaking. He preferred the intellectual means of violence and has only committed a murder in his 50-year career. Much like James Bond Stierlitz also had a favorite drink: Cognac. He drove a Mercedes 230 (according to the book Horch ) and had less to do with women as Bond.

Some actions of the film 17 Moments of Spring play in Berlin. Specifically, the home of Stierlitz in Pankow is known and has been used in GDR times as the headquarters of the Chilean emigrants. Despite almost total obscurity of the series in Germany excursions can be booked from their known locations in Berlin.

Stierlitz jokes

The miniseries Seventeen Moments of Spring was so successful in the USSR that he had to serve as a source of Russian jokes immediately. Most of these jokes parody the narration by actor Yefim Kopeljan. Many of these jokes are based on puns on:

" Stierlitz walked along the flower street. Suddenly he raised his eyes. These were the eyes of Professor Pleischner. "

It is sometimes alluded to actors who have starred in the movie:

" Stierlitz woke up in a prison cell. Now, he thought, where I 'm caught? When the Germans or the Russians? Am I Max Otto von Stierlitz or Maksim Isaev? Suddenly the door opens, a Russian policeman comes in: " Since you have been drinking over the eight yesterday, Comrade Tikhonov " "

Many jokes ironically the ability Stierlitz ' to wriggle out of the most impossible situations:

A meeting in Hitler's bunker. Suddenly, a man comes in, pours tea all, taking secret documents from the safe and leaves. Hitler is perplexed: "Who was that about? " Müller replies: "This is Stierlitz from Schellenberg's Department. In reality, he is a Russian agent, Colonel Isaev. " " Why do not you arrest him? " " Senseless. The wind will be out anyway. He will say that he had brought tea. "

Other Jokes pull the film through the concepts cocoa:

Müller sitting in his office and writes employee characteristics. He asks Obersturmbannfuehrer Holtoff pure: " Holtoff, tell me a number between 10 and 99 " " 26 " "And why not 62? " " I said, 26 " " Thank you." - And writes Holtoff the dossier " Character: nordic ". Then he asks purely Lieutenant Colonel Eismann. " Iceman, you give me a number between 10 and 99 " " 73 " "And why not 37? " "Well, when you say 37, then it will probably be 37. " " Thank you." - And writes Eismann the dossier " Character: almost nordic ". Then he calls purely Stierlitz. " Stierlitz, you give me a number between 10 and 99 " " 66 " "And why not ... crap, Isaev, stop sabotaging my work! "

Occasionally, dramatic situations are converted into the grotesque:

" On February 23, Stierlitz went into the Red Army uniform drunk on the Prinz- Albrecht-Strasse, waved the red flag and bawled Russian songs. Voice- of Kopeljan: " Never before has Stierlitz ' mission failure so close ..." "