The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Hessischer Rundfunk (HR), selected its entry through the national final Ein Lied für Madrid.

Three singers were chosen to participate in the national final: Siw Malmkvist (who had represented Sweden in 1960), Rex Gildo, and Peggy March.

It is rumoured that actually twelve songs were supposed to be presented and that Alexandra would have been the fourth representative but that she has withdrawn from the competition because Udo Jürgens advised her to do so.

HR held the national final on 22 February 1969 at its studios in Frankfurt, hosted by Marie-Louise Steinbauer.

During the show, that host has highlighted various times that the national final is supposed to be a song contest and that it is not the artists who is voted for.

At the Eurovision Song Contest, ""Primaballerina"" would be the third German entry composed by Hans Blum (he had previously written "Paradies, wo bist du?"

The highest mark came from the Yugoslav jury, which was the first one to vote and gave three points to Germany putting the country in the lead.