But she had a remarkable life besides that. She was raised in Berlin in the 1920s, where her father, Alfred Kerr, was a leading theater critic. They emigrated about the day of Hitler's election, barely getting out of the country, and migrated through Switzerland and other locations. Judith eventually was raised in England.
This year, Netflix is running Berlin Babylon, a 16-part historic miniseries set in Berlin 1929. It's been noted that the 12-hour series mentioned the name Hitler exactly one time, and as a passing reference in conversation. (Article at Refinery29 by Ariana Romero).
This reminded me of having gotten and flipped through a volume of Alfred Kerr's theater reviews from the period around 1925-1930. He mentioned the name Hitler 5 times, always in passing, and in contexts like "as crazy as a Hitler." This is similar to the one passing remark on the name Hitler in Berlin Babylon in 1929.
At bottom of this essay I give the 5 times Kerr's father mentions Hitler between 1923 and 1931.
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My fan website of links and connections to Berlin Babylon, here.
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Alfred Kerr: Mit Schleuder und Harfe, Theaterkritiken aus drei Jahrzehnten
1981 (edited), ed. Hugo Fetting. Book title: With slingshot and harp; Theater reviews from 3 decades.
Severin and Siedler Press, DDR
Severin and Siedler Press, DDR
In “Berlin Babylon” video series, ep. 1-16, it’s mentioned that in 1929, in twelve hours of filmmaking, the name Hitler appears only once, and in passing. In Kerr’s theater pieces, from 1923 to 1933, the name only appears a few times as well.
With regard to the earlier pieces, the Munich Revolt
(Putsch) was 8 November 1923, Hitler was tried on February 26, 1924, and
despite a 5-year sentence was released on December 20, 1924. The party was a very small minority party
until the 1930 and later.
Appearance 1
Piece: Toller und
Brecht in Leipzig, 11 December 1923
Referring to a feature of a play, Kerr writes, “das mit dem
Tiefsten der Zeit soviel Aehnlichkeit had, wie ich mit Hitler.” Those two things have as much resemblance to
each other, as me to Hitler.
Appearance 2
Piece: Fuenfundzwangzigmal Valentin, 10 October 1924 [25
Valentines]
“Dieser liebenswuerdige
Geisteszustand erklaert manches der Hitlerbewegung.” This condition explains much about the
Hitler Movement.
Appearance 3
Piece: Rehfisch: Nickel und die 36 Gerechten, 29 May 1926
Refers to Jewish thought
about 36 just men; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
and http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/rehfisch-hans-jose
“Rehfisch kann eine Handlung formen. Und an dem letzten Stueck bleibt als Gutes:
Dass man sich bei Nickels wirrer Schwafelei den Hitler vorstellen kann.” By Nickel’s crazy babble one can imagine
Hitler.
Appearance 4
Piece: “Mistinguett
Revue” 4 May 1931
“Auch in ihr steckt ein Stueck Frankreichs…das ich
erbaermlicher Verrater meines Vater- und Hitler-landes, entschuldigen Sie,
gruessen muss.” You find here “a piece
of France” that I (as pitiful traitor of my Fatherland and Hitlerland) must greet
(?recognize).
Appearance 5
Piece: “Adalbert in Kopernick” 2 June 1931
Kerr uses the French phrase, “coute qu’il coute.” [Cost what
it may]. Adds: “Verzeihung,
Hilter! (Anmerkung: Es ist franzoesisch.)”
Apologies to Hitler – that phrase was French.
PDF of the above book passages in the cloud here.
