"Erich Ernst Zepler was born on 27 January 1898 in Herford, a small town in Westphalia in Germany. He was the younger son of Martin Zepler, a country doctor, and his wife Flora. Martin tended his patients by the light of oil lamps, and made his visits on foot.

In 1902 Martin and Flora converted from Judaism to Christianity and Erich was baptised. The family moved to Evingsen in Westphalia before Erich started going to primary school.

Erich started to play chess while he was at primary school, and was composing chess problems at the age of fourteen while he was at grammar school.This activity gave an early indication of his exceptional analytical ability. Throughout his life he had a passion for chess, especially for the composition of chess problems.