Ernst Petermann was a German writer, humorist, and entertainer born on May 13, 1889, in Berlin, Germany, and passed away on May 3, 1970, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He began his career with a commercial apprenticeship and later became a civil servant. Before World War I, Petermann debuted as an original humorist with self-written lectures. He also used the stage name Ernst Pethke.

In the 1920s and 30s, Petermann worked in Berlin as a writer, dramatist, and performance artist, as well as a radio presenter. He recorded music with Deutsche Grammophon and Lindströms Gloria label, collaborating with orchestras such as Otto Kermbach's and the Heyn Quartet. As a lyricist, he worked with composers like Emil Palm, Otto Rathke, and Joseph Snaga, and after 1945, with Raymund Müller-Marc and Hans-Arno Simon.

Petermann was known for his versatility in performing various German dialects and moved between variety shows, theater, and cabaret. He performed at major venues in Berlin, including the Apollo Theater and Wintergarten. His popular lecture piece "Deutsche Heimat," a tour through German dialects, was recorded on a gramophone record.

In the 1950s, he continued to write humorous songs, with many of his texts published by IRIS-Verlag in Recklinghausen. His works include humorous lectures and song lyrics, and he left a discography of recordings with Deutsche Grammophon. Ernst Petermann's contributions to German entertainment spanned several decades, making him a notable figure in the country's cultural history.