| Year: | 1957 |
| Broadcaster: | ARD – German: [[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no (HR) |
| Country: | Germany |
| Preselection: | National final |
| Preselection Date: | 17 February 1957 |
| Song: | German: Telefon, Telefon|i=no |
| Final Result: | 4th, 8 points |
Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 with the song "German: Telefon, Telefon|i=no", composed by Friedrich Meyer, with lyrics by Ralph Maria Siegel, and performed by Margot Hielscher. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, German: [[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no (HR), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, HR was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the German: [[HR Sendesaal|Großer Sendesaal des hessischen Rundfunks]]|i=no in Frankfurt.
German: [[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no (HR) on behalf of ARD, organised and produced the German national final as part of the show German: Zwei auf einem Pferd.[1] German: Zwei auf einem Pferd was a regular game show starting in autumn 1956.[2] The selection of the German entry took place at the Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks in Frankfurt – the same venue as for the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 – on 17 February 1957 at 20:15 CET (19:15 UTC).[3] The final was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen, and abroad on ORF and NTS. It was hosted by Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff and directed by . oversaw the production of the show.
Four songs competed in the national final.[4] [5] The artists were accompanied by the Tanzorchester des Hessischen Rundfunks under the musical direction of Willy Berking. A jury consisting of the directors of entertainment programs of the West-German broadcasters decided the winner.[6] Each juror distributed ten points among his favourite songs.[7] "German: Telefon, Telefon|i=no", composed by, and with lyrics by, won the national final with a large margin and was selected as the German entry.[8]
| 1 | "German: Ich brauche Dein Herz|i=no" | Lotar Olias | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2 | "German: Was machen die Mädchen in Rio?|i=no" | 9 | 4 | ||||
| 3 | Paul Kuhn | "German: Das Klavier über mir|i=no" | 17 | 3 | |||
| 4 | Margot Hielscher | "German: Telefon, Telefon|i=no" | 36 | 1 |
HR hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 in Frankfurt, when there was still no format in place for the previous year's winning broadcaster to host the following year, and following Switzerland hosting and winning in 1956. "German: Telefon, Telefon|i=no" was conducted by Willy Berking and Hielscher performed seventh, following the and preceding . The song received eight points, placing fourth in a field of ten. The song's lyrics gave rise to what is generally considered the first "gimmick performance" in the contest history, with Hielscher in fact picking up a real telephone receiver during her performance. At the end of the song, she picks it up again and explains "on the telephone" that she can't talk anymore because her song is ending. It was succeeded as German representative at the 1958 contest by Hielscher again, with "German: Für zwei Groschen Musik|i=no".
Eurovision Song Contest 1957 was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen and on HR's radio station Zweites Programm.[14] [15] Excerpts from the show were also broadcast on UKW West (WDR) on 29 April 1957 at 21:15 CET.[16] [17]
Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.