Werner Finck(1902-1978)

German comedian, cabaret artiste and writer, the son of a pharmacist. He began his career as a fairytale storyteller in the 1920's. He was a co-founder of the Berliner cabaret 'Die Katakombe' in 1929. Finck came to prominence in the 1930's for brazenly satirizing the Nazi regime on stage. He was eventually imprisoned for six weeks at the Esterwegen concentration camp and only released after his friend, the actress Käthe Dorsch interceded on his behalf with Herman Goering. Finck later enlisted in the Wehrmacht as a private to evade further retribution. He resumed performing in political cabaret and in films after the war, also touring the United States in 1968.