Fritz Grünbaum
7 April 1880, Brünn - 14th January 1941, KZ Dachau
Deportation in Dachau 24  May 1938
Deportation in Buchenwald in early October 1938
Transferred back to Dachau Concentration Camp 24 October 1940
The actor Fritz Grünbaum was well-known as a sharp-tongued cabaret artist in the first place. Even in the years of the National Socialism he wasn't afraid of going for the actual rulers.
After a study as a lawyer from 1899 to 1903 he turned to the cabaret where he appeared at the Vienna "Die Hölle" from 1906. In the following years he was very successful as a cabaret artist in Vienna as well as Berlin. When he met his colleague Karl Farkas at the Vienna cabaret "Simplicissimus" in 1921, it arose a fruitful cooperation. They were very successful with their "Doppelconference".
Besides his appearances in cabarets Fritz Grünbaum was also active as a writer for operettas, revues and tunes. The eloquent artist was spotted for the talkies at the beginning of the 30's. He took part in the movies "Arm wie eine Kirchenmaus" (31), "Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin" (31), "Mensch ohne Namen" (32) and "Einmal möcht' ich keine Sorgen haben" (32) and was often responsible for the amusing part. The Jew Fritz Grünbaum observed the rise of the National Socialists very critical and made fun of them on the stage. But the Nazis had already noticed him on their list.  In an attempt to flee to Czechoslovakia, Grünbaum was sent back to Austria by the border patrol. He was arrested on 1 April 1938 and held prisoner in the police prison in Elisabethpromenade in Vienna, then, in May 1938, interned in the collection camp in Karajangasse with Bruno Kreisky and others. A short time later he was committed to Dachau Concentration Camp, where he performed as a cabaret artist. In early October 1938 he was transferred to Buchenwald, where one of his fellow inmates was Fritz Löhner-Beda. In Buchenwald he worked in the sock-darning workshop, the quarry and the latrine detachment and performed cabaret. On 24 October 1940 he was transferred back to Dachau Concentration Camp. In spite of maltreatments and illness of tuberculosis his sharp tongue didn't become silent till the end. With his wit he tried to help his fellow prisoners to get over the difficult time. Fritz Grünbaum died in the concentration camp Dachau on 14th January 1941.
Films
  1. Der brave Sünder (31)
  2. Der Durchschnittsmann (31)
  3. Wiener Wald (31)
  4. Arm wie eine Kirchenmaus (31)
  5. Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin (31)
  6. Der Raub der Mona Lisa (31)
  7. Jeder fragt nach Erika (31)
  8. Rosmarin im Glück (32)
  9. Ein Mensch ohne Namen (32)
  10. Einmal möcht' ich keine Sorgen haben (32)
  11. Mädchen zum Heiraten (32)
  12. Ein Lied, ein Kuss, ein Mädel (32)
  13. Es wird schon wieder besser (32)
 
Operetten-Libretti
Die Dollarprinzessin, 1907 (mit A. M. Willner)
Der Liebeswalzer, 1908 (mit R. Bodanzky)
Die Czikosbaronesse, 1920
Traumexpress, 1931 (mit K. Farkas)

Lustspiel
Sturmidyll, 1914

Revuen, Feuilletons, Gedichte, Schlagertexte
Draußen in Schönbrunn
Ich hab das Fräuln Helen baden sehn

Ausgaben
Die Schöpfung und andere Kabarettstücke, 1984
Die Hölle im Himmel und andere Kleinkunst, 1985
Der leise Weise, 1992 (alle herausgegeben von H. Veigl).
 
CD 1: Kabarettistisches, Conferencen, Chansons und Schlager von und mit Fritz Grünbaum
CD 2: "Lachen am Abgrund" - Feature über Fritz Grünbaum von Volker Kühn
Edition Mnemosyne, 2003