Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey

In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.

- By Reiner Grootenhuis

BORN INTO A WELL-TO-DO GERMAN-JEWISH FAMILY IN 1913, CAROLA TRIER WAS DETERMINED TO BE A DANCER DESPITE THE OBJECTIONS OF HER FAMILY. With limited opportunities to be a classical ballerina, she developed a revue-style show that included tap dancing, contortionism and a roller-skating routine. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Jewish performers could no longer work in Germany, so she took her act to neighboring countries, primarily France. There she met Marcel Neydorff, who became her manager and later, her fiancé. This chapter opens as Germany declares war on France on May 10, 1940, and Trier, then living in Paris, learned she was going to be arrested because she was a German citizen.

THE INTERNMENT CAMP

by Reiner Grootenhuis

I dreamed that I had to go into a camp. The following day, I washed my sweatsuit, the warmest outfit I had. One day later, Trudel [Mattersdorff, a friend] came to tell me that German-born Jews had to go to the Vélodrome d'Hiver (a sports arena in Paris similar to Madison Square Garden). This was the first step to the “camp.” Marcel saw to it that I had a heavy pair of shoes and was well dressed for whatever I might have to [endure]. As so far, I remained in Paris, I took no bread and sausage along (the usual provision for a soldier).