The promotional poster for the sixth war bond, released in 1917, featured the painting Helft uns siegen!, a work that generated over 13.1 million marks in funding. This creation remains the most recognized piece by the German artist Fritz Erler, who maintained a diverse career as a painter, graphic designer, and interior decorator across the early twentieth century.
Artistic Training and Early Career
Born in 1868 in Ząbkowice Śląskie, Erler began his formal artistic education in 1886 under Albrecht Bräuer at the Staatliche Akademie für Kunst und Kunstgewerbe Breslau. He furthered his technical skills at the Académie Julian in Paris. By 1893, he had established a practice encompassing glass windows, vases, and book covers. In 1895, he relocated to Munich and subsequently became a founding member of the magazine Jugend in 1896.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Design and Portraiture
Beyond his early graphic efforts, Erler was active as a theatrical set designer and interior decorator. His body of work included portraits of notable figures such as Gerhart Hauptmann and Richard Strauss. Throughout his professional life, he served as a full professor and contributed to the Deutscher Werkbund, a prominent association of craftsmen and designers. His residence was based in Holzhausen am Ammersee starting in 1918.
Wartime Propaganda and Later Commissions
During World War I, Erler served alongside Arthur Kampf as an official military painter for the Oberste Heeresleitung. His work focused on the visual representation of war efforts, with his poster for the sixth war bond serving as a primary example of his moral messaging through art. During the National Socialist era, he continued to receive remunerative commissions, completing portraits of individuals such as Adolf Hitler, Wilhelm Frick, and Franz von Epp. He was recognized for his contributions to culture with the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1928.
Fast facts
- Born: 1868, Ząbkowice Śląskie
- Died: 1940, Munich
- Citizenship: German Reich
- Education: Académie Julian
- Awards: Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1928)
- Professional Roles: Professor, mosaicist, painter, illustrator, interior designer
Questions readers ask
What is Fritz Erler's most famous work?
His most successful piece was the 1917 poster titled Helft uns siegen!, which was used to promote the sixth war bond.
Where did Fritz Erler study art?
He studied at the Staatliche Akademie für Kunst und Kunstgewerbe Breslau starting in 1886 and later at the Académie Julian in Paris.
