The film depicts the early life of the reformer Martin Luther and was produced by the Berlin and Vienna-based production company Rubin-Film. The premiere took place on September 1, 1913. The showing of the film in Austria was banned because the film was likely to offend religious sensibilities. On April 20, 1921, following a complaint from the producer Báron, this decision was overturned by the film inspection authority with the restriction that the film “may not be shown in front of young people”.