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She entered the sultry Cabaret scene in 1920's Germany, first as a spectator, then as a Cabaret singer. She was married to Rudolf (Rudy) Sieber in 1924 and interestingly, she only lived with him for five years, but remained legally married to him until his death in 1976. In 1929 she was seen in a Berlin Cabaret revue by Josef von Sternberg and subsequently offered a screen test, followed by capturing the coveted role of the Cabaret singer in, The Blue Angel, (1930). As a USO entertainer in World War II, she preferred wearing military issue uniforms to dresses, while she demonstrated her loyalty to her adopted country. (She became a U.S. citizen in 1939.) In the mid 1930's Marlene's popularity in U.S. cinema had declined, Americans taste had shifted and the studios were offering her only mediocre parts and the few roles she was offered were destined to failure. This ostensibly lead to an article published in The Hollywood Reporter claiming that Dietrich was considered "box office poison".  Her
career rebounds however; in 1939's Destry Rides Again,
with James Stewart.From 1944-45, Dietrich made a major contribution to the morale of the U.S. troops while stationed in North Africa, and Italy, where she endured the loss of many creature comforts in order to stay at the front. While enlisting her talents to the U.S.O. Camp Shows Inc., she not only entertained, but assisted both the hospital and mess details. In the French and German campaigns, she often rode with General Patton and members of his elite staff through the front lines. She never wanted to be in a situation where it could be said, "Here comes the Hollywood entertainers!", she wanted to be a soldier with the men of the infantry, to say, "I am here, and if you want to hear me sing a song, or do a routine, or even come up here on-stage and flirt with me, you can!". She wanted to make the troops feel as though time had stopped for them, for just a minute, that's ultimately what she felt she was over there for. Her participation in radio broadcasts aimed at Germany was actually a "black propaganda" scheme devised by the O.S.S. and programmed to German soldiers to lower their moral and promote defections. After 1945 she was subsequently awarded the "Legion of Honor", by the French government, and later given the title, and promoted to "officer" by President Pompidou and by President Mitterand. 
In 1960, for the first time since leaving Germany thirty years before, she performed in her hometown of Berlin. She received mixed reactions of adulation and some yelling, "Marlene, go home!" Due to health problems, her last stage appearance was in Sydney, Australia, where she fell and broke her left leg, in September, 1975. Thirteen years later, a reclusive Marlene Dietrich died in Paris at her Avenue Montaigne apartment in 1992. She is buried in her native Berlin and, in a much belated gesture of forgiveness, she bequeathed her vast memorabilia to that city. Alluring, vital, with that unforgettable, mesmerizing voice, Marlene Dietrich will remain an iconic legend of International Cinema for many years to come. I for one am glad that I've discovered yet another side of her inspirational life.
***excerpts and quotes by Marlene Dietrich are from, "Marlene Dietrich, Her Own Song", Maria Riva, daughter and biographer..Turner Classic Movies..2005.*** Other
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Born
in December, 1901 in Schoneberg, Germany as the second daughter
of Louis Erich Otto and Josephine Dietrich. She was given the angelic
name of Maria Magdalene. Her family called her Lene (layna), or
Leni, and this may have later influenced her when at the age of
thirteen she edited the longer version of Maria Magdalene and crafted
out the simpler version, Marlene.