Phoenix Cabaret

From a collection of letters preserved by Ernst Gruner.

Dietric Gruner Viktoria Rothbauer

April 19, 1932 Kasernenstrasse 18

Dunkerstrabe 39C Stuttgart, Germany

Berlin, Germany

Dear Fraulein,

It was my pleasure to witness your performance at the Bird Of Paradise

Theatre on April 9. I manage the Cabaret Phoenix in Berlin. I would like

to request that you audition for a position in our company of performers.

I feel like your beauty and talent would be a fine addition.

If this might be of interest to you, I can arrange for an audition at your convenience.

Hopefully with the next 7 to 10 days. We will be introducing a new program by the

middle of May. If the audition goes well, we would need you to be here for the

start of rehearsals on the 1st of May.

Please let me know when you will be available for the audition. I will forward

a train ticket and arrange for an overnight stay in a nearby hotel.

Please respond as quickly as possible.

In your service,

Dietric Gruner.

Henrik Rothbauer Dietric Gruner

April 22, 1932 Dunkerstrabe 39C

Kasernenstrasse 18 Berlin, Germany

Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Herr Gruner,

I was charmed to receive your letter inviting me to audition for your cabaret.

I sincerely hope that the fact that I am a transvestite performer will not be a

detriment to my audition. Perhaps the fact that I was able to convince such a

discriminating person as yourself will serve as an additional enticement.

I will be pleased to audition for you at any convenient time. I will be able to

purchase my own train ticket, but your offer to provide housing would be very

welcome. If there should be any particular song that you would like me to perform,

please let me know so that I could prepare a just rendition. If not, I will perform one

of my favorite tunes.

I am greatly anticipating our meeting in person and am very excited by the opportunity

you have given me.

Sincerely,

Henrik "Viktoria" Rothbauer

April 25, 1932

Herr Rothbauer,

I am also looking forward to our meeting.

The audition is scheduled for 3 PM April 27.

Someone will meet you at the Anhalter Bahnhof to

bring you to the Phoenix.

Dietric Gruner

(Text of Telegram from Dietric Gruner to Henrik Rothbaurer)

May 12, 1932

Dietric Gruner Ernst Gruner

Dunkerstrabe 39C Garten Strasse 49

Berlin, Germany Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Ernst,

I trust all is well with you in Stuttgart. Herr Gruber is making good progress in

rehearsals for the opening of The new program for the Phoenix. He will be ready for the revised

opening date of May 20. I have hired a talented new female impersonator. He sings

very well and has some dancing skills. Not very experienced, but willing to

learn. Gruber is preparing a number to feature the new performer. I have

hopes that it will be one of our more popular acts.

It will be the middle of June at the earliest before I can return to Stuttgart.

Please extend my love to Sophia and the children.

Regards,

Dietric

June 7, 1932 Dietric Gruner

Ernst Gruner Dunkerstrabe 39C

Garten Strasse 49 Berlin, Germany

Stuttgart, Germany

My dear brother,

Since I have had no word from you, I thought I would write to encourage you

to correspond more often. I know you are busy with the new show, but surely

you can find time.

Speaking of the new show, how has it been received? I looked for a review in the

Tageblatt, but saw nothing. Do you need me to contact Herr Hildenbrandt?

He does owe me a few favors. Have you done any promotion beyond the

posters we had agreed on? Let me know if you need additional funds for

advertising.

It is possible, that I may be able to move the new play to a Berlin theatre.

Early response has been excellent. If we are able to move to Berlin, I will

have to recast the leads with better known actors. I may need you to find a

proper venue there. I will keep you informed of my progress.

More somberly, I am distressed at the popularity of the NSDAP among

my acquaintances. The Chancellor is a dangerous man. Scapegoating

Jews and Communists will not solve Germany's problems. Many of my friends

are afraid they will have to leave the country. We both know how that would

effect the intellectual and arts community.

Sophia sends her love and we hope you will be able to visit soon.

Your loving brother,

Ernst.

Viktoria Rothbauer Dietric Gruner

October, 19, 1932 Garten Strasse 48

Dunkerstrabe 39C Stuttgart, Germany

Berlin, Germany

Dearest Dietric,

I hope you will be able to return to Berlin soon. I miss you.

I have so much to tell you that I will not entrust to the mail.

I have had my first appointment with Dr. Hirschfeld. I have learned

so much and he is so kind and understanding. Would you consider going

with me to speak to him when you return. I think he would help us

understand each other even better than we now do.

The show has been going well, Herr Gruber has everything well under control.

I am continuing to have issues with a couple of the chorus. It is pure jealousy.

I try my best to treat them with respect, but they are always insulting me and making inuendoes

about our friendship. The ironic thing is that I wish there were truth to what they say.

Please return as soon as you are able.

All my love,

Viktoria

Viktoria,

I must most humbly apologize for out misunderstanding last night.

I thought you felt the as I do and that you would welcome an advance.

I pains me that you think I would force myself on you. I understand why

You do not wish to speak to me. But please allow me to apologize in person.

Your friendship means to much to me to not try to reconcile out misunderstanding.

With the sincerest regret,

Dietric.

(Handwritten note found among Dietric Gruner's letters).

November 28, 1932 Dietric Gruner

Viktoria Rothbauer Dunkerstrabe 39C

Kasernenstrasse 18 Berlin, Germany

Stuttgart, Germany

Dearest Dietric

I must beg your forgiveness for my recent behavior. I thought I was ready

to be make love with you. However, when the moment came, I was overcome

with the fear of rejection. I so wanted to be the Viktoria that you thought I was.

But I could not stand to be touched in that way. I can't explain it more than that.

I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I am not Henrik, but I do not

Know how to be Viktoria. I don't know that I will ever know. It is better that I do

not see you until I determine what I really am. I don't think I could bear to be

with you as much as I love and want you when I quail from your touch.

Please forgive me.

V R

December 2, 1932 Viktoria Rothbauer

Dietric Gruner Kasernenstrasse 18

Dunkerstrabe 39C Stuttgart, Germany

Berlin, Germany

My dearest Viktoria,

I am the one who must be forgiven. I should not have been so forward.

Do not question that you are Viktoria. You are Viktoria to me and always

will be. Please come back to Berlin. We can go together to see Dr. Hirschfeld.

Perhaps he can calm your fears and give us some guidance going forward.

My life feels empty when you are not here. Please come back to me.

I promise that I will not touch you unless you ask me to.

All my love,

Dietric.

December 9, 1932 Viktoria Rothbauer

Magnus Hirschfeld Dunkerstrabe 39C

Institut für Sexualwissenschaft Berlin, Germany

Beethovenstraße 3

Berlin, Germany

Fraulein Rothbauer,

It is my great hope that I will be able to assist you to adapt to your circumstances.

My office will assist you in setting appointments at a time convenient to both of us.

I am dedicated to seeing that people of all sexualities can live full and happy lives.

In your service,

Magnus Hirschfeld, MD

February 14, 1933

Dietric Gruner Viktoria Rothbauer

Garten Strasse 49 Dunkerstrabe 39C

Stuttgart, Germany Berlin, Germany

My dearest Viktoria,

My heart aches that I cannot be with you on this most special day for lovers.

I long to hold you in my arms and make the sweetest of love. I imagine you wearing the

lingerie I bought you last week. And imagine myself slowly removing it. I will return next

Thursday. It would make my heart glad to see it on you however briefly. I know I should not

trust my thoughts to the mail, but I cannot help myself.

With all my heart and soul,

Dietric.

February 14, 1933 Dietric Gruner

Viktoria Rothbauer Garten Strasse 49

Dunkerstrabe 39C Stuttgart, Germany

Berlin, Germany

Dietric, my love,

I so wish you were here in Berlin. I am looking forward to modeling your

lovely gift. And even more to taking it off for you. Thanks to you and Dr.

Hirschfeld, I have learned to welcome your touch. I know that you love and want me for

who I am.

I no longer feel constrained to try to fool people by pretending

to be Henrik. I go everywhere as myself. As far as I am concerned, Henrik is

dead and Viktoria lives. She will be waiting for you when you return to me.

All my love and desire,

Viktoria

May 8, 1933

Dietric Gruner Ernst Gruner

Dunkerstrabe 39C Garten Strasse 48

Berlin, Germany Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Ernst,

Things have gotten bad here in Berlin. Last Saturday, Viktoria went to return a book

Dr Hirschfeld had lent her. When she arrived, thugs from the NSDAP were destroying the

Institute. They were beating everyone that was there. Several were hospitalized.

Viktoria was fortunate to escape without being seen by the mob. Of course, she

Is traumatized. She has locked herself in our room and is reluctant to open the

door, even for me. You were right that some of us will have leave Germany.

Berlin is no longer safe for us. I wish I knew where to go that was safe.

Perhaps Switzerland, but I don't know if they will let us in. I know how

people look down on those of us who are different. But I never thought I would

not be physically safe in my own country. I am glad that you are so accepting of me.

I know that Sophia does not approve of me, but she has been tolerant of

Viktoria, if not of some of my previous friendships.

I hope I do not bring down anything on you or your family. Viktoria is

terrified for her family, even though she is no longer welcome there.

It is a terrible time for Germany, if seems as if everyone has gone mad.

I just hope it does not get worse, though I am afraid that it will be much

more so, before it gets better.

Your loving brother

Dietric

May 21, 1933

Ernst Gruner Dietic Gruner

Garten Strasse 48 Dunkerstrabe 39C

Stuttgart, Germany Berlin, Germany

Dear Dietic,

Try to remain calm. The current situation is terrible, but panic

will only make things worse. We are worried for Viktoria's mental state.

You have to be strong and stable for the both of you. If things get too bad

in Berlin, both of you must come to Stuttgart and stay with us. We will be happy

to have you both. I believe we will be much safer together. I have been trying

to arrange papers for some of Jewish friends to be able to leave the country.

Do you think Viktoria would like me to reach out to her family? I know they

are estranged, but you said she was worried for them. My colleague Jakob

Labish's brother has lost his postal clerk position. Many gentiles are shunning

his family's butcher shop. They always had a good reputation for their business.

It is like a sickness is being spread through the country. And that sickness is

National Socialism. Like you I fear for Germany's future with these madmen in

charge. Don't forget my offer and ask Viktoria about her family.

Your brother,

Ernst.

June 3, 1933

Dietric Gruner Ernst Gruner

Dunkerstrabe 39C Garten Strasse 48

Berlin, Germany Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Ernst.

Viktoria is feeling much better. She does not go out unless I am with her.

But she no longer wakes up in the night imagining that the SA are at our

door. We have completely changed the venue at the Phoenix. It is now a

traditional music hall. The entertainment is safely boring. Perhaps the

only good thing to come out of the sacking of the Sexual Institute is that

in burning all the books and papers, they also destroyed much of Dr. Hirschfeld's

client list. So, most of his patients remain anonymous. For now, I think we

are safe enough in Berlin. It sounds like things are not much better in Stuttgart.

We are keeping a low profile. Many of my friends are afraid to acknowledge

each other on the street. Most of our bars and organizations have been shut

down. The cabarets are closed or have changed their entertainment.

For now, we are well,

Your brother,

Dietric.

January 2, 1934

Ernst Gruner Dietric Gruner

Garten Strasse 48 Dunkerstrabe 39C

Stuttgart, Germany Berlin Germany

Dear Dietric and Viktoria,

We all enjoyed your visit over the Christmas holiday. I must say that

Viktoria charmed all our guests on Christmas Eve. Her rendition of Stille Nacht was very

effecting. Bruno Obarth even asked me if you had overcome your preference for the company

of men. I just laughed. I am glad that she is doing so much better. It was good to see you happy.

I have enclosed a photograph of Viktoria with Sophia and the children taken on Christmas

Morning. Otherwise, there seems to be a pall over the country. So many are living in fear.

Which is of course, what the Nazis intend. There have been some arrests, but it seems

mostly to intimidate. I do not think our worst fears will materialize. As loathsome

an individual as Hitler is, I do not think he will go as far as his rhetoric would indicate.

I think he realizes that would divide Germany against itself and destroy the country.

I retain my faith in the German people to overcome their worst instincts.

Your brother,

Ernst.

July 7, 1934

Dietric Gruner Ernst Gruner

Dunkerstrabe 39C Garten Strasse 48

Berlin, Germany Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Ernst,

I do not know how much you know of the latest happenings. The National Socialists

have purged many of their leaders. It seems Hitler was ridding himself of both rivals

for power and those who did not agree with his policies. I am afraid that the incident

with Ernst Rohm will lead to a greater crackdown on men like me. There seems to be

nothing to counter Hitler's madness. I had heard rumors of infighting among his followers.

I had hoped that they would turn on each other. But Hitler resolved the disputes in his

own bloodthirsty way. Now, no one will dare oppose him. Have you been able to help

anyone leave? I had hoped to weather this until sanity had returned. I do not see sanity

returning without much more bloodshed. My heart aches for the German people.

If Hitler goes to war, untold thousands will die. Germany will be awash in the blood

of its people. Please make plans to leave before the worst happens. I will try to find

a way to get Viktoria and myself out of the country. I know some of my friends have

been arrested and have not been heard from since. There are rumors they are sending

us to work camps. Please be safe.

Your brother,

Dietric.

July 21, 1934

Ernst Gruner Dietric Gruner

Garten Strasse 48 Dunkerstrabe 39C

Stuttgart, Germany Berlin, Germany

Dear Dietric

We will be leaving Stuttgart August 8 on the 5 PM train to Hamberg. I have papers for you and

Viktoria. If you are not here by then, we will have to leave anyway. There will be a total of

12 of us. I have secured passage to New York on the SS New York for all. I hope I am not

too old to start over. My funds will be sadly depleted. America is said to be the land

of opportunity. Hopefully it will be knocking at our door.

Be safe and keep your head down. I will see you on the 8th if not before.

Love,

Ernst.

Translation of a letter postmarked July, 30, 1934.

Ernst

The worst has happened. The Gestapo has arrested Viktoria.

I was out at the grocer. She was gone when I got back. The caretaker told me

They had been here and had taken her. Someone must have betrayed us.

I have to find where they have taken her. I don't know what I will do, but if I can't get her free I

will go wherever they send her. I must warn you they have the Christmas photo you sent.

She was so proud of it that she had it framed on the dresser. I hope they

will not be able to identify your family from the picture. Be careful and

good luck if I do not see you again. Please kiss Sophia and the children

for me.

Your loving brother,

Dietric.

Partial Passenger list for Hamberg America Line SS New York

Departed Hamberg August 9, 1934

Gruber, Ernst, 38, Theater producer, German

Gruber, Sophia 35, Housewife, German

Gruber, Heinz, 12, minor, German

Gruber, Hannah, 9, minor, German

Obarth, Jakob, 41, businessman, German

Obarth, Ruth, 35, Housewife, German

Obarth, Charlotte, 14, minor, German

Rothbauer, Moise, 46, Importer, German

Rothbauer, Esther, 44, housewife, German

Rothbauer, Saul, 23, Importer, German