Background
Ludwig von Gerdtell was born into an aristocratic Prussian family, his father and grandfather were officers in the Potsdam Guards Regiment.
theologian university professor
Ludwig von Gerdtell was born into an aristocratic Prussian family, his father and grandfather were officers in the Potsdam Guards Regiment.
He did not follow this tradition and studied law, then theology with an emphasis on New Testament Studies.
From 1902 to 1908 he worked as a traveling secretary for the German Student Christian Association. He came to the conclusion that the statements of the New Testament church and the state disagreed. Between 1905 and 1928 he published six titles in the series Brennende Fragen der Weltanschauung für denkende moderne Menschen (Burning questions for modern-minded people) dealing in a critical manner with dogmas and interpretations.
Gerdtell also came into contact with the Disciples of Christ in America and influenced the association.
Shortly thereafter, under the leadership of Dean East. Walker, an organization in the United States. who wanted to support his efforts. In January 1934, he made a comment while shopping at the local tobacco shop at Schöneiche Berlin to the effect that Hitler was synonymous with war.
Subsequently, he was denounced by a neighbor. Only because of the courageous intervention of municipal policeman Max Dittrich was it possible for Gerdtell to escape during the night to avoid arrest and the following day.
After flight through Switzerland, Italy and England, he arrived in the United States.
All his property was confiscated. With the assistance Dean East. Walker he found employment teaching at the Department of Religion of Butler University in Indianapolis. After the Second World War he founded the European Evangelistic Society.