Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze organized a pact with English Quaker Henry Hodgkin on a Cologne railway station platform in 1914, declaring that they were one in Christ and could never be at war. This commitment catalyzed the formation of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, marking the beginning of a life dedicated to international peace activism.
Academic Foundation and Early Activism
Born in 1885 in Görlitz, Siegmund-Schultze pursued studies in theology and philosophy at institutions in Breslau and Magdeburg. His early professional career focused on international church relations, serving as secretary for committees fostering ties between Germany and Great Britain. In 1911, he and his wife established the Soziale Arbeitergemeinschaft Berlin-Ost. During the First World War, he managed religious services for prisoners of war and collaborated with Elisabeth Rotten to facilitate food programs for Berlin schoolchildren.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →University Tenure and Exile
In 1925, Siegmund-Schultze accepted a professorship at Frederick William University in Berlin, focusing on youth welfare and social ethics. His efforts to assist German-Jewish refugees following the Nazi rise to power in 1933 led to his arrest on 93 charges of racial assistance. Subsequently expelled from Germany by the Gestapo, he relocated to Switzerland, where he spent over a decade working in student chaplaincy and serving as a guest lecturer until 1946.
Post-War Contribution and Ecumenism
Returning to academic life in 1947, he became a professor at the University of Münster. He founded the Jugend-Wohlfahrtsschule in Dortmund, leading the institution until 1954. His later work included the establishment of the Ecumenical Archive in Soest in 1958 and acting as a founding member of the Central Office for the Law and Protection of Conscientious Objectors. He maintained professional friendships with figures such as Albert Schweitzer and published the Ökumenisches Jahrbuch.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 June 1885, Görlitz
- Died: 11 July 1969, Soest
- Religion: Lutheranism
- Key Academic Posting: University of Münster
- Founded: Ecumenical Archive in 1958
- Citizenship: Germany
Questions readers ask
What is the Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze Prize?
Established in 1994, it is an award for nonviolent action, with recipients including War Resisters' International and Combatants for Peace.
Where did he teach?
He held positions at Frederick William University Berlin, the University of Münster, and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Münster, Frederick William University Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
