Magic at War

The story of a German illusionist who performed for both the Germans and the British during World War Two. And whose magic helped him avoid combat and earn freedom from captivity. Born in Germany in 1911, Friedrich Mahlo became interested in card tricks at twelve years old. His hobby helped him overcome shyness in front of his classmates.  When he was 15, his father took Friedrich to receive magic lessons from Berlin-based Friedrich Conradi, a magician and magic dealer. Conradi sped up the teenager’s learning. As he turned to adulthood, Mahlo also turned to magic full-time, becoming a professional magician in 1930. He performed as Maldino, a stage name he kept throughout his career.  Germany’s Weimar Republic suffered a deep depression following the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Mahlo took what bookings he could to make ends meet. He favoured those in other European countries where the economic crisis was not as severe as that in his home nation.  Mahlo started his career with ...

A double-bill blog post, telling the stories of V.J. Astor and Yrus, two magicians who were captured during World War Two and who managed to escape and make it back home. V. J. Astor Hungarian Victor Jamnitzky (1922-2011) became interested in magic aged 8, but was persuaded to pursue a career in medicine by his father. He began to study medicine in Budapest in 1941, working part-time at a theatre to pay for his studies. But, his passion for magic prevailed and he dropped out of university. He passed a state examination to become a registered artiste and starting working as a magician full-time.  Adopting the stage name 'Nicoletti', Jamnitzky enjoyed early success, touring central Europe, including bookings at Berlin's prestigious Wintergarten and Scala variety theatres.  In 1944, fearing Hungary might conclude a separate peace with the Allies, Hitler's Germany occupied Jamnitzky's home country. At the same time, the Soviets were advancing towards Hungary's borde...