[1][2] Rellstab was born in Schöneberg, Berlin to a distinguished family of academics and musicians.

His great-grandfather, also named Ludwig Rellstab, was a well-known poet and music critic.

His father Ludwig M. E. Rellstab was a professor of physics and electronics, who in 1914 became chief engineer at Siemens & Halske.

[citation needed] Rellstab represented Germany at fifth board in the Munich 1936 unofficial Olympiad, and won two bronze medals (team and individual).

This biographical article relating to a German chess figure is a stub.