My guess is the battery is only for the meter, and not needed for general operation.
Sounds like the shutter is stuck, and it would need a cleaning (or even better, a CLA). If you're ambitious, you can open the lens and clean the blades yourself with some acetone or lighter fluid.
Can't find a manual for it (or the GE/GEr), but looks like it's an all manual camera, and the meter is an exposure guide. Get yourself a decent handheld meter, and you should be good to go.