Walter Grundmann

Walter Grundmann (21 October 1906, in Chemnitz – 30 August 1976, in Eisenach) was a German Protestant theologian. During the Nazi era, he was an active collaborator with the regime and a member of the German Christians movement, the pro-Hitler offshoot of the Lutheran church. After the fall of the Nazi regime, he prospered by working with the new communist government of East Germany (GDR) as a "Secret Informer" to the Ministry for State Security ("Stasi"). His commentaries on books of the New Testament were popular and well-read, although his reputation suffered in the 21st century after knowledge of his collaboration with authoritarians became better-known.

Grundmann became a member of the Nazi Party in 1930 (even before they took power) and was from 1933 onwards an active member of the "German Christians." He parlayed this into a position as a professor at the University of Jena, where he eventually became the chair of New Testament studies in the theology department. In this role, he propounded antisemitism and unconditional support for the state. In 1939, he was made head of the newly founded Institute for the Study and Elimination of Jewish Influence on German Church Life in Jena, which was meant to serve state antisemitism by the "Entjudung" (dejudifying) of the Bible and giving antisemitic theological training and arguments for Nazi propaganda. Grundmann propounded an "Aryan" non-Jewish Jesus. Despite his past Nazi activities, Grundmann regained some prestige as a Lutheran theologian in post-war East Germany, publishing various Bible commentaries. By the 1980s these had become standard popular literature. He also spied on other church officials for the Stasi. His cover name was GM Berg ("GM Mountain") after the Sermon on the Mount ("Bergrede").

Life

Early life

Head of the Institute for the Study and Elimination of Jewish Influence on German Church Life (1939-1945)

Post-war life