Johann Christoph Hampe (1913-1990) was a German Lutheran minister, journalist, radio broadcaster, and author of 25 books and many articles. He was born in Wroclaw, the son of a high judge. During World War II he was a soldier in Russia, then in Italy where he was captured by the Americans. During this time, he was allowed to take care of the horses in a small circus, which facilitated his escape across the Alps on foot to Germany. His experiences of the war led him to study theology, alongside philosophy, then history in Göttingen, Tübingen and Geneva. Hampe traveled widely around the world, and was an ecumenical observer at the Vatican Council. To Die is Gain was his most famous and successful book, both in Germany and abroad.
