Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
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UnclaimedA German Masonic grand lodge founded in 1770 and organized according to a modified Swedish Rite.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany, known in German as the Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland and also as the Order of Freemasons, is one of Germany’s historic Masonic grand lodges. Founded in 1770 by the Prussian army physician Johann Wilhelm Kellner von Zinnendorf, it developed as an alternative to the Strict Observance system that dominated much of German Freemasonry during the eighteenth century. Its ritual tradition was derived substantially from the Swedish Rite and remains a major distinguishing feature of the organization. The lodge is one of the three Old Prussian grand lodges and is a founding member of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. It is among the five German grand lodges recognized within the framework of regular Freemasonry by the United Grand Lodge of England. Unlike a religious denomination, it does not describe itself as a church or faith community. Its rules nevertheless require members to acknowledge the teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the Holy Scripture. The organization emphasizes personal moral development, conscience, rational reflection, inner freedom, self-knowledge and responsibility. The Grand Landlodge has a distinctive multilevel structure. St. John’s Lodges conduct work corresponding to the three traditional Craft degrees. St. Andrew’s Lodges cover the fourth through sixth degrees, while Chapters work the seventh through tenth degrees. A High Chapter exists for holders of the eleventh degree. This arrangement gives the body an integrated structure that differs from the separate Craft and appendant-body arrangements common elsewhere in Freemasonry. Its administrative network has historically included provincial lodges that coordinate local activity. The organization has been particularly associated with Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Berlin. The reference material reports approximately 3,500 members and, for 2007, 109 St. John’s Lodges, 26 St. Andrew’s Lodges, 10 provincial lodges and 11 Chapters. It also records the reactivation of lodges in the former German Democratic Republic. Individual lodges were at various times established in Lome, Riga and Monaco; only the Lome lodge was reported as still belonging to the Grand Landlodge at the time described. The organization’s institutional ecosystem includes the research lodge Frederik, a Masonic museum in St. Michaelisdonn, the Zinnendorf Foundation in Hamburg-Eppendorf, the member journal Zirkelkorrespondenz and St. John’s Fraternal Help for Self Help, which organizes social-relief projects in Eastern Europe. Its former headquarters were destroyed during the Second World War, and its later headquarters were established in Berlin-Dahlem. The body is led through a dual system consisting of a Master of the Order, responsible for the Order as a whole and for its teachings and traditions, and a Grand Master of the Land, responsible principally for administrative leadership and the St. John’s and St. Andrew’s branches. The Grand Landlodge was forcibly dissolved during the National Socialist period. In 1933 it attempted a highly controversial transformation into a body called the German-Christian Order of the Knights Templar, removing or altering elements identified with traditional Freemasonry. The changes did not secure acceptance from the Nazi regime, which continued to treat Freemasonry as hostile. The grand lodge was finally disbanded in July 1935. After the war, members began rebuilding the organization and participated in the negotiations that led to the creation of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. It remains an active German Masonic institution, although detailed current membership and leadership information is not established by the supplied sources.
History
The Grand Landlodge emerged from eighteenth-century disputes within German Freemasonry. Many German lodges worked under the Strict Observance, but dissatisfaction grew with what critics considered elaborate rituals and insufficient substance. Johann Wilhelm Kellner von Zinnendorf sought an alternative system and eventually obtained Swedish-Rite materials through his associate Baumann, who had gained the confidence of Karl Friedrich Eckleff in Sweden. After breaking with the Strict Observance in December 1766, Zinnendorf concentrated on building a new grand lodge in Berlin. Several lodges adopted the translated Swedish materials. On 27 December 1770, the Grand Landlodge was established even though its initial network comprised seven St. John’s Lodges and one St. Andrew’s Lodge. Recognition from the Grand Lodge of London followed in 1773, and Frederick the Great issued a letter of protection in 1774. The organization expanded rapidly, reaching 34 lodges around 1778 and 62 after Zinnendorf’s death in 1782. Provincial structures were established in territories including Lower Saxony, Austria, Silesia, Pomerania and Russia. Relations with Swedish Masonry fluctuated before a reconciliation with the Grand Lodge of Sweden produced a Treaty of Friendship in 1819. During the nineteenth century, Christian Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Nettelbladt introduced significant ritual reforms using Swedish materials. Adolf Widmann founded the journal Zirkelkorrespondenz in 1872, which remained an important member publication. The grand lodge also attracted prominent members of the Prussian and German royal establishment, including William I and Frederick III; Frederick later served as Master of the Order. The twentieth century brought the organization’s most severe crisis. Following the Nazi seizure of power, its leaders attempted to remove features that Nazi authorities and propaganda associated with Freemasonry. In 1933 the body adopted the name German-Christian Order of the Knights Templar, eliminated much of its Masonic terminology, removed or altered Old Testament references and replaced established symbols and legends. These concessions failed to satisfy the Nazi regime. Legal efforts against attacks on local lodges were unsuccessful, and the organization ultimately ceased to operate after the Interior Ministry ordered the dissolution of Germany’s grand lodges and constituent lodges. A final ceremony took place on 14 July 1935. Some archive materials were taken to Sweden and were returned in 1978. Reconstruction began soon after the Second World War. Hans Oehmen became the first postwar Master of the Order, while Paul Rosenthal served as Grand Master of the Land until his death in 1946. Later negotiations, led in part by the nineteenth Master of the Order Fritz Pauk, contributed to the formation of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. In the postwar decades the organization restored and expanded its lodge network, including the reactivation of lodges in the former East Germany. Its modern structure retains the three principal branches—St. John’s Lodges, St. Andrew’s Lodges and Chapters—alongside provincial administration, research, heritage and charitable institutions.
- 1998
Fraternal relief organization established
[1]St. John’s Fraternal Help for Self Help began organizing social-relief projects in Eastern Europe.
- 1991
Zinnendorf Foundation founded
[1]The Zinnendorf Foundation was established in Hamburg-Eppendorf.
- 1982
Research Lodge Frederik founded
[1]The Research Lodge Frederik was established in the Flensburg-Husum area.
- 1978
Masonic archives returned from Sweden
[1]Essential archival materials moved to Sweden during the Nazi period were reported to have been returned.
- 1935
Dissolution under National Socialism
[1]The grand lodge and its constituent lodges were disbanded after state pressure and an Interior Ministry order.
- 1933
Attempted conversion into a Christian chivalric order
[1]The organization adopted the name German-Christian Order of the Knights Templar and removed or altered several Masonic elements.
- 1872
Zirkelkorrespondenz founded
[1]Adolf Widmann established the organization’s Masonic journal for members.
- 1819
Treaty of Friendship with Swedish Masonry
[1]A reconciliation with the Grand Lodge of Sweden was formalized through a friendship treaty.
- 1774
Royal protection
[1]Frederick the Great issued a letter of protection to the organization.
- 1773
Recognition from London
[1]The Grand Lodge of London formally recognized the Grand Landlodge as the grand lodge of the German states in the reported correspondence.
Products and positioning
A historic German grand lodge distinguished by its modified Swedish Rite, Christian-oriented constitutional principles, integrated degree structure and place within regular German Freemasonry.
Masonic degree work · 1770
St. John’s Lodges
The Craft-lodge branch of the Grand Landlodge. St. John’s Lodges work the regular first three Masonic degrees and form the principal local entry point into the organization’s Swedish-Rite-derived system.
Masonic degree work · 1770
St. Andrew’s Lodges
The intermediate branch responsible for work in the fourth through sixth degrees. These lodges sit between the Craft-level St. John’s Lodges and the higher Chapter structure.
Masonic degree work · 1770
Chapters
The higher-degree branch working the seventh through tenth degrees and headed by the Master of the Order. A separate High Chapter serves holders of the eleventh degree.
Member publication · 1872
Zirkelkorrespondenz
A Masonic journal founded by Adolf Widmann in 1872 and distributed among members of the Order. It represents the organization’s continuing publishing and educational activity.
Fraternal relief · 1998
St. John’s Fraternal Help for Self Help
A relief organization associated with the Order that organizes social-support projects in Eastern Europe. It extends the organization’s fraternal identity into charitable and community activity.
Controversies
1933
Accommodation with the Nazi regime
The Grand Landlodge attempted to preserve itself by removing or changing Masonic terminology, symbols and ritual elements and adopting the name German-Christian Order of the Knights Templar. The effort failed to win acceptance from the Nazi authorities and is described in the historical record as a serious misjudgment of National Socialism’s hostility toward Freemasonry.
Brand decisions
1945
Postwar re-establishmentStrategyBackground
The Grand Landlodge had been dissolved in 1935 and its infrastructure disrupted by the Second World War and National Socialist rule.
Action taken
Members began rebuilding the organization, electing Hans Oehmen as the first postwar Master of the Order and restoring lodge activity.
Aftermath
The rebuilding contributed to the later formation of the United Grand Lodges of Germany and the reactivation of lodges in the former East Germany.
1933
Conversion into the German-Christian Order of the Knights TemplarStrategyBackground
After the Nazi seizure of power, German Freemasonry faced escalating propaganda, attacks and political pressure. The Grand Landlodge’s leaders sought to distance the organization from features identified as traditionally Masonic.
Action taken
The organization changed its name, removed Masonic nomenclature, abolished aprons, altered architectural symbolism and replaced or edited ritual material, including Old Testament references and the Hiram Abiff legend.
Aftermath
The concessions were not accepted by the Nazi Party and did not prevent dissolution. The organization was ordered to disband in 1935.
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