# Erich Obergatz — Tarzan the Terrible character guide

> Erich Obergatz in Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lieutenant Obergatz, Obergatz, the German

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-pithecanthropus

## Snapshot

A German officer whose mind shattered in the jungle, now propped up as a false god by a scheming high priest.

## Who they are

Obergatz is the last of the three German officers who destroyed Tarzan's home, and months of terror have reduced him to a gibbering wreck. When Lu-don needs a living deity to rival Tarzan's claim, the broken lieutenant is dressed up as Jad-ben-Otho — until Tarzan addresses him in German and the mask slips. His terror and sudden cunning make him both pathetic and dangerous, a living debt Tarzan has crossed a continent to collect.

## Relationships

### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/jane_clayton)

_psychological_

Erich Obergatz is obsessed with Jane Clayton, pursuing her with manipulative and predatory intent.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Erich Obergatz is a direct enemy of Tarzan, competing for Jane and survival.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Erich Obergatz is a direct enemy of Tarzan, competing for Jane and survival.

### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/jane_clayton)

_psychological_

Erich Obergatz is obsessed with Jane Clayton, pursuing her with manipulative and predatory intent.

### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/jane_clayton)

_psychological_

Erich Obergatz is obsessed with Jane Clayton, pursuing her with manipulative and predatory intent.

## In the story

### [By Jad-bal-lul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xvii-by-jad-bal-lul)

Mentioned as the German officer who escorted Jane into the interior; his cruelty led to a mutiny among native soldiers, forcing him and Jane to flee.

### [XIX: Diana of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xix-diana-of-the-jungle)

Appears filthy and mad, confronts Jane at the ford, and is threatened by her.

### [Silently in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xx-silently-in-the-night)

The unscrupulous German lieutenant whose reappearance menaces Jane, described as unkempt and unnerving.

### [XXI: The Maniac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxi-the-maniac)

Crawls away wounded, becomes delusional, and proclaims himself Jad-ben-Otho while approaching A-lur.

### [XXIII: Taken Alive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxiii-taken-alive)

Awakened by the battle, he rants as Jad-ben-Otho and is summoned to the palace by a priest.

### [XXIV: The Messenger of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxiv-the-messenger-of-death)

Posing as Jad-ben-Otho; terrified when he recognizes Tarzan; is shot by the Messenger of Death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/erich_obergatz
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters