[3] He was educated at the Gymnasium in Bernburg and Salzwedel before studying economics in Berlin (at the Studium der Nationalökonomie), later receiving his doctorate from the University of Leipzig.

[7] In 1918, following the end of the War, he was appointed director of Krupp's, tasked with transforming the company's Essen works from a weapons manufacturer to peace time production.

[3] Upon America's entry into World War I in April 1917, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson immediately severed diplomatic relations with Germany and the country returned Ambassador Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff's passports.

Following the end of the War, full diplomatic relations weren't restored until Wiedfeldt was installed as the new German Ambassador to the United States, presenting his letters of credence to President Warren G. Harding in May 1922.

[14] During his tenure as ambassador, the Foreign Office had to deny his resignation several times, including in December 1923,[15][a] and February 1924 following his decision to leave the flag at the German Embassy at full-mast, rather than lowering it to half-mast upon the death of former President Wilson.

[22][23] On January 31, 1925, he left his post, handing over leadership of the embassy to Counsellor Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff, before he was officially succeeded by Baron Adolf Georg von Maltzan in February.