Austria’s Ludwig Wrede competed successfully as an individual and a pair’s skater. Individually he took part in all World Championships from 1923 to 1930 where his best result was a bronze medal in 1929. At the European Championships he won silver in 1924 and gold in 1929. In the era of Willy Böckl and later Karl Schäfer his only Austrian Championship came in 1923, when Böckl was absent.
He was even more successful in pairs skating. His skating partners were Herma Planck-Szabo until 1927 and – after her retirement – Melitta Brunner. With Szabo, Wrede was twice World champion (1925 and 1927), and bronze medalist in 1926. With Brunner, he won bronze medals at the 1928 World Championships and the 1928 Olympic Winter Games. In the two followings years, they finished second at the World Championships. With both partners he was one time Austrian Champion, in 1925 with Szabo and in 1930 with Brunner.