Germany woke up to very sad news on 18 November. Alice and Ellen Kessler, the famous twin entertainers, have died at the age of 89. Their passing was through assisted suicide, and it has left people with many questions and a lot of emotion.
The Kessler twins were huge stars in Europe, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. They sang, danced and acted. They were known in Germany, Italy and other parts of the world, including the United States. They worked with some of the biggest names of their time. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, Eddie Fisher. Everyone knew who they were.
In 1959, they represented West Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song was called “Tonight We Want to Go Dancing,” and they finished eighth. It remains one of the early memorable German entries.
Their deaths were first reported by the German outlet Bild. The report said the sisters chose to leave the world together and no longer wished to continue living. They were almost ninety and had lived their entire lives side by side, so hearing that they left together has brought both sadness and deep reflection.
Many people began asking about Germany’s assisted suicide laws because the rules are not simple. Back in 2020, Germany’s highest court decided that people have the right to choose their own death. This includes being allowed to ask for help from someone else. But the help must follow strict rules.
Germany does not allow anyone to perform the act for another person. That would be active euthanasia, and it is still illegal. It can even lead to prison. What is sometimes allowed is when a person is given the medication and takes it themselves. This is considered passive assistance. It is a legal grey area, not fully banned but not wide open either. The person must make the choice themselves, must be capable of making that decision, and must be an adult.
Before 2020, the rules were even stricter, and many people had to travel to countries like Switzerland or the Netherlands if they wanted help in ending their life. That old system was overturned because it was seen as limiting personal freedom.
As for Alice and Ellen, Bild reported that police visited their shared home on 17 November. The twins had lived in two connected houses separated by a wall. Officers confirmed their deaths and found no signs of anything suspicious. Everything pointed to a peaceful, planned decision.
Earlier this year, the sisters had spoken about their wishes for after their passing. They said they wanted their ashes placed together in one urn someday. They wanted to rest beside their mother Elsa and their dog Yello. It was something they had already written clearly in their wills.
Their deaths mark the end of an era in European entertainment. They brought joy, elegance and talent to generations. And now their final decision has sparked an important conversation about dignity, autonomy and the laws around assisted dying in Germany.