Philipp Rupprecht
Encyclopedia
Philipp Rupprecht was a German cartoonist best known for his antisemitic caricature
s in the Nazi publication Der Stürmer
, under the pen-name Fips.
, Rupprecht emigrated to Argentina
in 1920 after World War I
, where he worked as a waiter and a cowboy on a cattle ranch. He returned to Nuremberg around 1924, and was hired by the Fränkische Tagespost, a newspaper linked to the German Social Democrats
. When he was dispatched to cover the second Luppe-Streicher trial with instructions to draw a caricature of Julius Streicher
, he instead drew caricatures of Nuremberg's Mayor, Hermann Luppe, and a prominent Nuremberg Jew also involved in the trial. The cartoons were published by Der Stürmer in December 1925, and Rupprecht was hired by the paper.
With the exception of 1927, he was the Stürmer's sole regular cartoonist under the pen-name of "Fips" until February 2, 1945, when the last edition of Der Stürmer appeared, drawing thousands of antisemitic caricatures. His style changed during the course of his career, but his caricatures always depicted Jews as short, fat, ugly, unshaven, drooling, sexually perverted, bent-nosed, and with piglike eyes. One depicted a despondant mother smoking while neglecting her child in a lonely rooming house, with a picture of her Jewish seducer on the floor, with the caption: "Everything in her has died. She was ruined by a Jew
." The caption "Two kinds of children; two kinds of human beings" juxtaposed dark-haired, overfed, and greedy Jewish women and children by fair-haired children playing with less extravant toys.
Among his best-known works were illustrations for two antisemitic children's books published by Stürmer Verlag: Trau keinem Fuchs auf grüner Heid und keinem Jud auf seinem Eid ("Don't Trust a Fox in a Green Pasture Or a Jew Upon His Oath") (1936), and Der Giftpilz
("The Poisonous Mushroom") (1938).
At the beginning of World War II
, Rupprecht served in the Kriegsmarine
, but was released from service because of his value to wartime Nazi propaganda.
. He was put on trial in 1945 and sentenced to six years hard labour. On 23 October 1950 he was released from the prison in Eichstätt
. Until his death he lived and worked in Munich
and Starnberg
as a painter and decorator. He died on 4 April 1975 in Munich
, aged 74.
Rupprecht was married twice: from 1921 on to Erna Blom (one son and two daughters) and from 1930 to Berta Stöcklein (one son).
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
s in the Nazi publication Der Stürmer
Der Stürmer
Der Stürmer was a weekly tabloid-format Nazi newspaper published by Julius Streicher from 1923 to the end of World War II in 1945, with brief suspensions in publication due to legal difficulties. It was a significant part of the Nazi propaganda machinery and was vehemently anti-Semitic...
, under the pen-name Fips.
Career
Born in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Rupprecht emigrated to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1920 after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, where he worked as a waiter and a cowboy on a cattle ranch. He returned to Nuremberg around 1924, and was hired by the Fränkische Tagespost, a newspaper linked to the German Social Democrats
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
. When he was dispatched to cover the second Luppe-Streicher trial with instructions to draw a caricature of Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher was a prominent Nazi prior to World War II. He was the founder and publisher of Der Stürmer newspaper, which became a central element of the Nazi propaganda machine...
, he instead drew caricatures of Nuremberg's Mayor, Hermann Luppe, and a prominent Nuremberg Jew also involved in the trial. The cartoons were published by Der Stürmer in December 1925, and Rupprecht was hired by the paper.
With the exception of 1927, he was the Stürmer's sole regular cartoonist under the pen-name of "Fips" until February 2, 1945, when the last edition of Der Stürmer appeared, drawing thousands of antisemitic caricatures. His style changed during the course of his career, but his caricatures always depicted Jews as short, fat, ugly, unshaven, drooling, sexually perverted, bent-nosed, and with piglike eyes. One depicted a despondant mother smoking while neglecting her child in a lonely rooming house, with a picture of her Jewish seducer on the floor, with the caption: "Everything in her has died. She was ruined by a Jew
Rassenschande
Rassenschande or Blutschande was the Nazi term for sexual relations between Aryans and non-Aryans, which was punishable by law...
." The caption "Two kinds of children; two kinds of human beings" juxtaposed dark-haired, overfed, and greedy Jewish women and children by fair-haired children playing with less extravant toys.
Among his best-known works were illustrations for two antisemitic children's books published by Stürmer Verlag: Trau keinem Fuchs auf grüner Heid und keinem Jud auf seinem Eid ("Don't Trust a Fox in a Green Pasture Or a Jew Upon His Oath") (1936), and Der Giftpilz
Der Giftpilz
Der Giftpilz is a children's book published by Julius Streicher in 1938. The title is German for "the toadstool" or "the poison mushroom". The book was intended as anti-Semitic propaganda...
("The Poisonous Mushroom") (1938).
At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rupprecht served in the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
, but was released from service because of his value to wartime Nazi propaganda.
Postwar
Rupprecht’s career came to an end with the defeat of the Nazis in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was put on trial in 1945 and sentenced to six years hard labour. On 23 October 1950 he was released from the prison in Eichstätt
Eichstätt
Eichstätt is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the District of Eichstätt. It is located along the Altmühl River, at , and had a population of 13,078 in 2002. It is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the lone Catholic university in Germany. The...
. Until his death he lived and worked in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Starnberg
Starnberg
The city of Starnberg is in Bavaria, Germany, some 30 km south-west of Munich. It lies at the north end of Lake Starnberg, in the heart of the "Five Lakes Country", and serves as capital of the district of Starnberg...
as a painter and decorator. He died on 4 April 1975 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, aged 74.
Rupprecht was married twice: from 1921 on to Erna Blom (one son and two daughters) and from 1930 to Berta Stöcklein (one son).