FIVE ACTORS BANNED BY NAZIS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

FIVE ACTORS BANNED BY NAZIS

“Tried To Make Them Appear Ridiculous ’’

For "trying to make party and State institutions appear ridiculous” in I heir stage performances, five concert hall artists have been barred from the Reich Chamber of Culture, which means they must never appear on the public stage •i Germany’ again. Witticisms at the expense of such institutions as the 'Winter Help Fund led to the veto, which was imposed by order of Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment. The artists appeared until recently al. the Cabaret tier Komiker, on Hie Kurfurstendainm. ami surprised Berliners by tlie outspoken nature of their •emarks. The cabaret was packed light after night. Chief of the five is Werner Finck, a veil-known raconteur, whose humour ibout public affairs led in March, 1935, o Hie closing of the cabaret Catacomb. :>n that occasion Finck received a •mvere warning and was sent for some hoc to a concentration camp. Vet only recently, according to the ilieial aiiiiouncenient. lie “showed be as lacking all positive alliliide io■voids National Socialism.” The announcement adds that -bis attitude has

caused serious annoyance in party quarters. The four other artists are I’eler Sachse, who appeared under Hie name "Kurt Pabst,” mid a music hall team called the • Rolands. OHieials declare that there is no question of their being sent to a concentration camp. The ".Xaclilmisgnbe" says" There is for the National Socialist community no great difference between men, who, out of hale or stupidity, incite against Germany in a foreign language and men who stand on Hie stage in Germany itself mid try to disparage what has become sacred to us in I lie mighty struggle of 80,000,000 Germans,

"Tlie live had striven for weeks to im-ili, without being caught out. They used to eye Hie stalls mid dress circle anxiously to see if at least one person could understand their rent meaning. The object was so plain that the National Socialist State could not tolerate longer that this destructive incitement in the heart of Hie capital should continue."

The paper adds: "It appeared at lirst Him Hie artists were only stupid, but Hie game was, in reality, very cleverly planned."