Fritz Klimsch

Fritz Klimsch studied at Academy of Arts, Berlin. Training under Fritz Schaper is recorded. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is art of sculpture and visual arts. Works named in the authority record are Rudolf Virchow Monument. Work by Fritz Klimsch is recorded in the collections of Finnish National Gallery and Berlinische Galerie. Distinctions recorded are Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and Goethe Medal for Art and Science.

• Name — Fritz Klimsch • Born — 10 February 1870 • Birthplace — Frankfurt am Main, Kingdom of Prussia • Died — 30 March 1960 • Place of death — Freiburg im Breisgau, West Germany • Field — Sculpture • Relatives — Paul Klimsch (brother)

Klimsch was born on 10 February 1870 in Frankfurt am Main to a family of artists, studying at the Royal College for the Academic Fine Arts in Berlin, and was then a student of Fritz Schaper. In 1898, Klimsch was a founding member of the Berlin Secession. His work was also part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

After the seizure of power by the Nazis, official commissions such as busts of Adolf Hitler, Erich Ludendorff and Wilhelm Frick, among others, were predominant. According to a diary entry by Joseph Goebbels, Klimsch was "the most mature of our sculptors. A genius." In September 1944, Goebbels added Klimsch to the Gottbegnadeten list, a list of prominent artists considered crucial to Nazi Culture, one of only 12 visual artists to be featured on the list. After Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II, Klimsch and his family settled in Salzburg, Austria, but in 1946 was deported by the local burgermeister, Richard Hildmann, for being a German citizen. The family moved to Freiburg im Breisgau, in Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. Although Klimsch was never a member of the Nazi Party, being honored by the Nazi regime made him a controversial post-war figure, and led to his expulsion from the academy of the arts in 1955. However, shortly before his death in 1960, Klimsch received the Federal Cross of Merit from Hans Filbinger, the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, on his 90th birthday.

Kilmsch died on 30 March 1960 in Freiburg im Breisgau, and was buried in Saig bei Lenzkirch, where he was an honorary citizen.

• Illustration — Front entrance to the Axel Springer SE headquarters building in West Berlin, 1977, with the Fritz Klimsch owl sculpture • Illustration — Fritz Klimsch, a female nude • Illustration — Fritz Klimsch, factory mark • Illustration — Nymph by the water (Frankfurt am Main)

The authorities additionally record the headings klimsch, fritz klimsch, f. klimsch and Fritz Klimpsch. His recorded language was German. He was the child of Eugen Klimsch. He married Irma Klimsch. 2 children are recorded: Reinhold Klimsch and Uli Klimsch. Other recorded relations include Ferdinand Karl Klimsch.

Fritz Klimsch is recorded as sculptor.