before the rise of nazism, nonnenmacher was a well-known sculptor whose works adorned many public buildings in germany. the prominent berlin-born australian sculptor, inge king studied under nonnenmacher during 1936-1937 in preparation for her entry to the berlin academy of arts. hermann and erna's sculptures was classified as "degenerate art" by the nazis, and much of their public works were destroyed. erna was persecuted as a jew and they emigrated to london in 1938.