Dia lahir di Lehe, sekarang Bremerhaven[note b] dan memiliki nama baptis Elisabeth Carlotta Helena Berta Bunnenberg[1]
Pada 1922, di usia 17 tahun[note c], dia menikah dengan Paul Ernst Wilke (1894–1971), seorang pelukis lokal.[note d] Mereka memiliki tiga anak bernama: Björn, Carmen-Litta, dan Michael. Tak lama setelah kelahiran ketiga anaknya, kehidupan rumah tangga mereka berantakan. Pada 1931, pernikahan mereka berakhir dengan perceraian.[2]
Note a:^ Lale Andersen often wrote her own lyrics, usually under the pseudonym Nicola Wilke.[3]
Note b:^ Lehe at the time of her birth was an independent municipality. It is now part of Bremerhaven. In 1924 Lehe was amalgamated with the neighbouring Geestemünde to become the city of Wesermünde. Bremerhaven, which was founded in 1827, was merged into Wesermünde in 1939. In 1947, Wesermünde became part of the state of Bremen and was renamed as Bremerhaven.[4]
Note c:^ Although some online resources give 1924 as the year of the marriage,[5][6] Lehrke's book contains a copy of the wedding announcement that had appeared in the Nordwestdeutsche Zeitung on 1 April 1922.[1]
Note d:^ In her early career, Lale Andersen was sometimes billed as Liselotte Wilke.
Referensi
^ abLehrke, G.: Wie einst Lili Marleen—Das Leben der Lale Andersen, Henschel Verlag, 2002; ISBN 3-89487-429-5. In German.