Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 with two songs: "Das Lied vom großen Glück",[b] written and performed by Walter Andreas Schwarz; and "So geht das jede Nacht", composed by Lotar Olias, with lyrics by Peter Moesser [de], and performed by Freddy Quinn.

The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Nord- und Westdeutscher Rundfunkverband [de] (NWRV), organised a national final to determine their two entries for the contest.

[2][3] "Das Lied vom großen Glück" was the first-ever entry from Germany performed in the Eurovision Song Contest.

[4] Following the formation of the EBU, a number of notable events were transmitted through its networks in various European countries, such as Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.

[11] During a meeting held on 27 and 28 October 1955, the television program directors of the German broadcasting corporation ARD decided to participate in the contest and to organise a national final.

[13][14] "Grand Prix 1956 Eurovision" – Schlager und Chansons was the national final held to determine the two songs that should represent Germany.

[12] In April 1956, several listings magazines finally announced a list of 11 performers who should sing the competing compositions:[15][13] Lys Assia (nominated by SDR), Eva Busch (SWF), Angèle Durand, Margot Eskens (SFB), Friedel Hensch und die Cyprys [de] (NWRV), Margot Hielscher (BR), Bibi Johns (SDR), Rolf Baro (Radio Bremen), Walter Andreas Schwarz (HR), Hans Arno Simon [de], and Gerhard Wendland [de] (NWRV).

[13][15] Also not part of the list, Melitta Berg [de] (nominated by SWF) was named as a participating singer by a press report.

[25][19][27] Walter Andreas Schwarz, of Jewish origins, was a survivor of the concentration camps and had been working as an announcer for the BBC after World War II.

[28] The first two German entrants, Walter Andreas Schwarz and Freddy Quinn, have therefore been interpreted as "cosmopolitan representatives of a West Germany that was distancing itself from its Nazi past and embracing an Americanized present.

[30] In the German national final of 1982, co-presenter Rudolf Rohlinger [de] claimed that "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" had come second.