Hellmuth Lucius von Stoedten
Hellmuth Eduard Ferdinand Lucius von Stoedten was a German diplomat during World War I.
Early life
His father was Robert Lucius, Prussian Minister of Agriculture, and a confidant of Otto von Bismarck.Career
Hellmuth was initially attaché in Paris 1898–1900 and till 1906 secretary. In 1911 he was a counsellor in St. Petersburg. From 1914 he was a diplomatic agent and consul general in Durazzo, Albania. From 1915 to 1920 he was the German ambassador in Stockholm. Von Stoedten was very instrumental in the preservation of Swedish neutrality in World War I. During the war he had a different view on the German policy towards Russia after the Russian Revolution than the military leadership. Erich Ludendorff accused the messenger even of disloyalty. However, Lucius was protected by the German Foreign Office. In addition to other embassies in Stockholm he was largely responsible for the contacts with Alexander Protopopov, and the Russian opposition and revolutionaries. As such, he played a role in 1917 in the transport of Lenin from the German sphere of influence over Sweden to Russia. Between 1921 and 1927 he was envoy in The Hague till he became sick.Personal life
On 9 April 1896, He married Baroness Bertha von Stumm-Halberg, daughter of industrialist Baron Carl Ferdinand von Stumm-Halberg. Together, they were the parents of two daughter:- Irma Ida Ellen Lucius von Stoedten
- Jutta Elisabeth Ida Lucius von Stoedten
He was the owner of a manor in Stödten Straußfurt, inherited the family estate Ballhausen after the death of his eldest brother Otto Baron Lucius of Ballhausen. Since then Hellmuth was the "Baron Lucius of Ballhausen".