Carola Neher

Carola Neher was a notable German actress and singer, celebrated for her contributions to both stage and film. In 1926, she moved to Berlin, where she collaborated with the influential playwright Bertolt Brecht, who specifically crafted the character of Polly Peachum in "The Threepenny Opera" for her. During her time in Berlin, Neher also broke social norms by taking up boxing lessons from the renowned Turkish trainer Sabri Mahir, a space that welcomed prominent women like Vicki Baum and Marlene Dietrich in the 1920s. Embracing the ideals of the "New Woman," she actively challenged conventional gender roles.

In 1932, following Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Neher fled Germany, initially relocating to Prague, where she performed at the New German Theater. Her journey continued to the Soviet Union in 1934, where she joined forces with Gustav von Wangenheim at the Cabaret Kolonne Links. However, her life took a tragic turn in 1936 during the Great Purge, when she publicly identified herself as a supporter of Leon Trotsky and was subsequently arrested on July 25. Neher received a ten-year sentence and was imprisoned at Black Dolphin Prison near Orenburg, Russia. Sadly, she succumbed to typhus on June 26, 1942, at the age of 41, leaving behind a legacy marked by her bold spirit and artistic contributions.