Curt Bloch und sein Unterwasser-Kabarett

Curt Bloch and His Underwater Cabaret

Thilo von Debschitz presents the poems of the German Jew Curt Bloch

It was a minor sensation, covered by the New York Times, Le Figaro, and The Guardian: Just recently, 492 poems written by the German Jew Curt Bloch while in hiding from the Nazis were made available to the international public. The poems by the man in hiding circulated in small, self-published booklets titled “Het Onderwater-Cabaret” within the resistance network in the Dutch city of Enschede. 

Anger and despair, hope and humor—Bloch’s poems offer a deeply personal insight into the Nazi era and have lost none of their power to this day. Deutschlandfunk places them in the same vein as texts by Tucholsky and Kästner.

Thilo von Debschitz of Wiesbaden is responsible for rediscovering and bringing this treasure to light; he introduces us to Bloch and his work together with Simone Bloch, Curt Bloch’s daughter, who will join us for the evening via video link from New York. 

We’ll hear selected poems and gain insight into a remarkable project that—coordinated from the Hessian state capital—currently involves the “who’s who” of the German and Dutch theater scenes; it also gives a voice to survivors of the Shoah. The websitewww.curt-bloch.comhas been honored with awards including the Grimme Online Award and the European Design Award.

All attendees will receive a small gift containing texts by Curt Bloch, ensuring that the event’s impact extends beyond the evening.

To support this important project, we would appreciate a donation to the Wiesbaden-based nonprofit association “Het Onderwater-Cabaret e.V.” The association’s stated purpose is to promote Curt Bloch’s legacy—for example, by maintaining the digital archive, developing educational materials for schools, and organizing lecture events.

Curt Bloch—Poems from the Resistance.

EVENT INFORMATION

Date:Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Doors open:starting at 6:30 p.m.
Time:7:00 p.m.
Price:€5 admission per person + donation on the night to “Het Onderwater-Cabaret e.V.”

Included in the price:

• Presentation of the Curt Bloch Project 
• Hosted by Thilo von Debschitz
• A small gift with texts by Curt Bloch

Not included in the price:

• Drinks at our bar