Gertrud David

Gertrud David, née Swiderski, (25 December 1872 – 21 June 1936) was a German journalist, film producer, director, and screenwriter.

Biography Gertrud Swiderski was born on 25 December 1872 in Leipzig to Helene (née Schlenk) and Philipp Swiderski. She was the oldest of four siblings born into a wealthy family. In April 1896, she married the Eduard David, a newspaper editor and Social Democrat, who would become involved in politics and a proponent of Socialist reform.

After her marriage, David studied economics at Women's college of Leipzig. As early as 1896, she had begun publishing about women's issues and from 1899 she wrote about the consumer cooperative movement. Between 1900 and 1917 she served as editor of the "Cooperative Society" section of the Socialist Monthly Lectures and wrote widely in the Social Democratic press. David and her husband relocated to Berlin in 1905, but separated in 1908, finally divorcing in 1911, though they continued to work closely together. Women's issues of maternity protection and sexual reformation were important topics she addressed.

Death David died in Berlin on 21 June 1936, but her company continued to operate under the direction of her daughter, Sonja, until operations were ceased by the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.