Götz Freiherr von Houwald (May 13, 1913 – August 16, 2001) was a German diplomat, historian, and ethnographer. He was born in Posen and died in Bonn. His full name was Maximilian Otto Gustav Albrecht Hubert Wilhelm Götz-Dieter Freiherr von Houwald. Götz-Dieter von Houwald's parents were and Helene Gräfin von Carmer. His time in Nicaragua saw his interest in the Sumu Indians begin and develop. After his retirement in 1975, Houwald studied ethnology and Hispanic studies at the Universität Bonn, obtaining a doctorate in 1978.