Born in München in 1924, Gerhard Ludwig was an avid health nut, and in gymnasium, he took to wrestling and lifting weights to improve his stamina, and strength, working alongside his family, in his garage, tinkering with
motor vehicles.

Active in the local Hitlerjugend from the age of 14, young Gerhard watched his friends and townfolk join the SSVT in 1937. After watching the SSVT parade outside the Feldernhalle in Munchen, Gerhard was adamant, he would join up, and at age 18, he signed his enlistment papers.

After training, Gerhard found himself enroute to the Ostfront, in time to take part in the Operation Citadel- its aim, to break the Kursk salient. and distinguished himself at Prokhorovka, earning his Infantry Assault badge, while engaged.

After defeat and retreat, the Leibstandarte entrained for Italy to assist in disarm local Italian units, and the collapse and capitulation of the Fascist government.

On leave after the Leibstandarte's campaign in Italy, Gerhard reunited with his the Regiment in Korsun before rest and refitting in Belgium in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe. Gerhard fought with promise and honor in Caen and later in the Battle of the Bulge. At this point in the war,

Gerhard's Kompaniefuhrer could only grasp his hand and thank him, instead of presenting him with decorations for his valor and service, as their supply lines became devastated by the Allied 'Jabo' Air Forces. The Regiment entered a futile game of cat-and-mouse, losing ground at every turn.

During an encirclement in Normandy, Gerhard and two of his kameraden volunteered to search the local farms for food and water. While scouting a farmhouse, Gerhard and his group were set upon by a band of French partisans. Certain to be shot by the bandits, they were lucky enough to be released into the captivity of an American recce patrol and taken to the Allied lines, where for Gerhard, the war ended.