The architect and designer Otto Firle (1889-1966) established his reputation during the Weimar Republic primarily as a designer of brand emblems.
He became famous in 1918 with the design of the crane symbol for the airline Deutsche Lufthansa (then: Deutsche Luftreederei). And since the crane and eagle apparently were not very far from each other, Otto Firle was commissioned to design a robust coat of arms for the Deutsche Reichsbahn (State Railways) signs, which must be sturdy and visible from far distance. The Deutsche Reichspost (German Post) took over the distinctive emblem and changed the background color from yellow to white.
This and many other designs for a national, democratized corporate identity during the Weimar Republic can be seen until October 20, 2020 in the special exhibition “Democracy and its Eagles”.
