At the time of his birth, his father, then the third-in-line to succeed the Ducal throne, lived with his wife in Prussia as a Captain and commander of the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards in Potsdam.

After Germany lost World War I, Duke Ernest II was forced to abdicate the government of the Duchy on 13 November 1918, and spent the rest of his life like a private citizen.

[1] Although the Nazi regime banned anthroposophy, the research with disabled children was allowed to continue in Hamborn until June 1941, thanks to the mediation of George Moritz.

[2] However, eventually the Gestapo stopped the research and George Moritz, along with the managing director of the institution Adolf Ammerschläger, was placed in protective custody for nine and a half months.

In 1946, George Moritz returned to Hamborn Castle, where he campaigned again for the employees and guests of the convalescent home and especially for those living in the youth boarding school.