Peter Kreuder

Peter Kreuder was born on August 18, 1905 in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany as Peter Paul Kreuder.

In 1918 Peter Kreuder discovered the jazz, a music style he cultivated till to the end of his days.

Pianist, composer and band leader, the son of a chamber music singer and trained at Cologne Conservatory and the Munich Academy of Music. First performed in public from the age of eleven. Musical director of the Deutschen Theater in Munich and in Berlin from 1922 and of the "Max-Reinhardt-Buehnen" in 1930. In the 1930's and 40's, he became a leading composer of film music. He was among the first to popularise jazz and swing elements in German music during the 1930's.

During the 1930s and 40s he became one of the most sought-after German musical film composers; his credits run to some 150 movies.

Joined the Nazi Party in 1932, but resigned his membership two years later.

He emigrated to Sweden in 1939, but returned to Germany two years later after threats against his relatives were launched by the Nazi authorities.

In addition to his film work, Kreuder also wrote popular songs and art pieces, including a piano concerto, operettas, musicals, and two operas, Der Zerissene (1940) and Der Postmeister (1966).

His way led him via Czechoslovakia and Austria to Switzerland where he met Evita Peron in 1948. He followed her to Argentina where he lived till her death in 1952.

Conducted radio orchestras in Brazil and Argentina. Evita Peron bestowed upon him the title of professor in 1950.

In Argentina he also composed the music to movies like "El honorable inqulino" (1951), "Cosas de mujer" (1951) and "El gaucho y el diablo" (1952). After the death of Evita Peron death he went to Brazil where soon became a well-known personality too.

Returned to Germany where his last filmcomposition came into being like "An jedem Finger zehn" (1954), and "Der gestohlene Himmel" (1974).

He died in Salzburg and is buried in Munich Ostfriedhof, grave number 55-19-2.

He was a composer, known for Inglourious Basterds (2009), Valkyrie (2008) and Alle kann ich nicht heiraten (1952). He was married to Ingrid Wallisch, Sophie Eschenbach, Gertrud Kathreiner and Erna Sachse.