Col. Klink

[Michaelminiatures]

This is an interesting set of photos from Alan's book. Werner Klemperer was a US soldier in WWII
Alan H. Archambault
Although he played Colonel Klink, Werner Klemperer served in the US Army in WWII. He seemed to specialize in playing Hitler in Army Soldier Shows. This scene is from my Acadia book on Fort Lewis.

 

[Joe55]

Well I'll be......

Thanks for sharing this !!

Joe

 

[theBaron]

Klemperer had an interesting history and career. His father was conductor Otto Klemperer, and the family fled Germany after the Nazis came to power. He had a career playing officers in various movies, and agreed to play Klink, provided the character would be portrayed as a bumbling fool who never succeeded.

Interestingly, John Banner can also be found in serious roles as German officers (eg, as a German major in Italy in "Go For Broke!") and as Gregor Strasser, an early founder of the Nazi party and Hitler rival, in another film.