Background
He was born Erwin Vogl in Bielitz, Silesia which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
He was born Erwin Vogl in Bielitz, Silesia which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
He served in the Austrian Army during the First World War. After the war Erwin established himself as a leading German songwriter, enjoying a particular hit with I Kiss Your Hand, Madame ("Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame") which featured in the 1929 film of the same title. lieutenant became the signature tune of Richard Tauber.
Bing Crosby later sang an English version in The Emperor Waltz (1948) Due to his Jewish origins, Erwin went into exile in France following the Nazi rise to power in 1933.
He continued to work on film scores. Erwin was later arrested during the Nazi Occupation of France.
He died in the Beaune-la-Rolande internment camp.