After Erich Ohser finished his studies in Leipzig in 1928, he started working as an illustrator at the Sächsische Sozialdemokratische Presse. In his early work for the democratic magazine Vorwärts, he often made satirical drawings of political figures like Hitler and Goebbels. Because of his criticism against the ruling party, he was eventually banned from working by having his professional license suspended.
He got the opportunity to continue to work at the nazi magazine Berlin Illustrierte, but not under his own name. Therefore, he adopted the pseudonym E. O. Plauen, combining his initials with the name of the city he was raised in. Plauen published work in magazines such as Wahrer Jakob, Neue Revu and Das Reich.
In 1934, he created his pantomime comic 'Vater und Sohn' ('Father and Son') for the Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung. In 1944, when he was apprehended by the Gestapo, he committed suicide in his cell. In memory of Plauen and his brilliantly gentle strip, the Wilhelm Busch museum in Hannover dedicated an exhibition to him in 1962.
Vater und Sohn fruit wrap papers