Fritz Löhner-Beda

Fritz Löhner-Beda was an Austrian lyricist, librettist and writer, who is remembered for his collection of song lyrics which he composed during his time in several concentration camps. In 1938, he and another prison, Hermann Leopoldi, composed the famous anthem of the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Before being put into the camps, Löhner-Beda collaborated with Franz Lehar on several of his operettas. Unfortunately, because of Löhner-Beda's Jewish heritage, the collaborations could not continue.

At the Monowitz concentration camp, near Auschwitz, Löhner-Beda was beaten to death, on December 4, 1942.

Many of the songs for which Löhner-Beda wrote the lyrics have become popular concert numbers, including 'Dein ist mein ganzes Herz' ('You are my heart's delight') from The Land of Smiles, and 'Meine Lippen, sie kussen so heiss' from Giuditta.