The Order of Saint Joachim was reorganized in 1929 as “politically neutral” and specifically rejecting any connection to Freemasonry or the earlier requirement and division of the Order into noble and non-noble classes. According to the official history of the Order published in 1948, The Order of Saint Joachim was forced to “go quiet” during the Nazi period in Germany, but its members maintained informal connections to one another. From 1948 the Order was led by a "Reorganization Council" and in 1988 the Order was led by Helmut von Bräundle-Falkensee as Grand Master, until his death on 14 October 2007. Bräundle-Falkensee was an Austrian who was also founder and Secretary General of the Austrian Albert Schweitzer Society. After his death, a Canadian barrister named Stephen Lautens (b. 1959) was elected the new Grand Master.