Mathilde Ludendorff

Ada von Pagenhardt - Porträt Mathilde Ludendorff, 1933

Mathilde Ludendorff (4 October 1877 – 24 May 1966) was a German psychologist, philosopher, and teacher who is best known for her work alongside her husband, Erich Ludendorff, in developing a philosophy known as "Gotterkenntnis," a form of Germanic revivalism that sought to replace established Christianity with a new paganism based on Germanic principles. Her contributions to psychology, particularly in the context of her philosophical and religious beliefs, have been a subject of both interest and controversy.

Biography

Mathilde Ludendorff was born Mathilde Friederike Karoline Spiess in Wiesbaden, Germany, on 4 October 1877. She pursued an education in medicine and later turned her focus towards psychology. Mathilde was a prolific writer, and her works include a variety of topics ranging from psychology to education and religion.

In 1926, she married Erich Ludendorff, a prominent German general who played a key role during World War I. Together, they founded the Tannenbergbund, an organization that promoted their nationalist and anti-Semitic beliefs. The Ludendorffs' views were deeply intertwined with a broader völkisch movement that sought to define German identity through racial purity and ancient traditions.

Philosophical and Psychological Contributions

Mathilde Ludendorff's work in psychology was heavily influenced by her philosophical and religious views. She believed in the concept of "Gotterkenntnis," which advocated for a spiritual understanding and revival of ancient Germanic gods as a means to counteract what she and her husband saw as the degenerative effects of Christianity and modern society on the German people.

Her psychological theories often focused on the impact of religious and spiritual beliefs on the human psyche. She argued that the moral and ethical decay of society was a direct result of the abandonment of true Germanic spiritual values. Ludendorff's work in this area was controversial, as it intertwined scientific discourse with her own religious and nationalist ideologies.

Legacy

Mathilde Ludendorff's legacy is complex. On one hand, she was a pioneering woman in the fields of psychology and philosophy at a time when female participation in these disciplines was limited. On the other hand, her work is inseparable from the nationalist and anti-Semitic ideologies she promoted, which have been widely discredited and condemned.

Her contributions to psychology and philosophy are studied not only for their content but also for their historical context, reflecting the turbulent interwar period in Germany and the rise of ideologies that would lead to the World War II.

Selected Works

• Title of Work 1 – A discussion on her psychological theories.
• Title of Work 2 – Exploration of Gotterkenntnis and its implications for German society.

See Also

• Erich Ludendorff
• Völkisch movement
• Germanic paganism