Rikli, Martin, 1898-1969

Cinematographer, author, photographer, film director. Martin Rikli was born on January 19, 1898 in Zurich. He was educated in Switzerland and Germany, and devoted much of his academic work to the study of photography and cinematography. By the mid-1920s, he was employed by the camera company, Ziess Ikon, and used his spare time to create films. In 1927, he joined a group of researchers traveling to German East Africa and his film documentary of this expedition gained wide acclaim the following year.

Over a span of approximately 14 or 15 years he created dozens of films while working for the German Ufa cinema company. In 1929, he traveled to North Africa to film a documentary on Italian colonization efforts in Tunisia, Libya, and Tripoli. In 1935 and 1936, he spent a great deal of time in Africa during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Primarily used as propaganda by the Nazi regime, his work focused on the successes of the German and Italian fascist states, as well as advancements in technology and science. He was widely recognized as a leading propaganda correspondent for the Nazis, and remained a steadfast supporter of the Nazi party throughout the 1930s and World War II. In 1944, he anticipated the German defeat and departed Ufa to return to Zurich, where he continued to create films, particularly instructional films. He died on April 7, 1969 in Zurich.

From the guide to the Martin Rikli Photographs, 1935-1936, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)