War and Peace in the Altmark

In 1607, the wealthy childless Prussian lawyer Nicolaus III Gercken dedicated his estate to support the academic education of his grandfather’s descendants. The Nicolaus Gercken Family Foundation still distributes land lease income to studying family members every year. The foundation’s successes and crises reflect German history from the 16th to the 21st century. “War and Peace in the Altmark” is a richly illustrated German history book that describes the end of feudalism, the development of modern political philosophy and the impact of technological progress on human collaboration up to the 21st century. The survival of the foundation despite war, confiscation and repression in Germany is a fascinating tale.