'Mecki' (1963).
Wilhelm Petersen learned the painting profession from Peter Gustav Dorén in Hamburg. He became active in painting and restoring. During the Nazi regime, he was active as a member of the SS and official propaganda artist. He participated as soldier during Hitler's invasion and occupation of Poland (1939) and was promoted to Obersturmführer during World War II. After the war, he was arrested by the Allied Forces and released in April 1946.
In 1950, Petersen became an illustrator at Hörzu. In 1953, he helped out with the popular children's comic 'Mecki', alternating with Reinhold Escher and Heinz Ludwig. In 1975, Petersen won the Friedrich-Hebbel-Preis for his painting work. The same day, his house burned down by arson, and a third of his work was destroyed. Petersen retired in 1977, when his eyesight began to fail. He died on 22 May 1987, nearly blind.
Wilhelm Petersen should not be confused with zoologist Wilhelm Petersen (1854-1933), literary critic Wilhelm Petersen (1835-1900), politician Wilhelm Petersen (1889-1968) or composer Wilhelm Petersen (1890-1957). His sons, Hans-Christian Petersen (b. 1947) and Anders Petersen (b. 1959), are well known artists in their own right.
'Mecki'.