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The biographical sketch on Waldus Nestler (1887 to 1954) outlines the development of a nearly forgotten Leipzig pedagogue who, together with the theologians Leonhard Ragaz and Alfred Dedo Müller became an important spokesman of religious socialism. His own experience of the reality of war as a gasdefence officer led Nestler, as a Christian with a sense of responsibility, to the International League for Reconciliation. In 1919 Nestler was one of the founders of the German section of this league, the German League for Reconciliation, of which he became the secretary in 1925. On lecture tours in France, Sweden, Denmark, England, and Switzerland, as wellas in numerous German towns Nestler tried to promote peace and international understanding. From 1919 he also strove to realize his visions of reconciliation as a practising teacher at the world-famous Gaudig School in Leipzig. A highlight of his commitment to peace pedagogy was the warning publication "Poison Gas over Germany" (Berlin 1931), a remarkable contribution to the debate on poison gas. Because of his religious-pacifist attitude Nestler was defamed, transferred as a punishment, and demoted; this happened twice: first as a teacher on the basis of the infamous "Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service" in April 1933, and later as Rector of the Gaudig School as a result of the Stalinist exclusion of progressive pedagogy which commenced in the East of Germany around 1948.
Thus his fate exemplifies the rejection of progressive pedagogy and pacifism in theyoung GDR. Today his name stands for a humanist school tradition worthy of cultivation, as well as for personal commitment in the fields of peace and progressive pedagogy.