Oberwolfach, 1944-1964 (Q1284610)

Paper deals with the history of the well-known international conference center for mathematics in Oberwolfach, in the Black Forest (Germany). It was originally founded as a research institute under the Nazis in the last months of the regime by geometer and then President of the German Mathematicians' Association (DMV), Wilhelm Süss (1895-1958). Article contains longer passages in English translation from the recollections of Süss' widow, Irmgard. It continues with excerpts from the published reminiscences (1983) of Irish mathematician John Todd, who ``saved Oberwolfach'' shortly after the war, persuading French occupation authorities into leaving the institute to the mathematicians. The article then reproduces passages from a report by Hermann Weyl's son, F. Joachim W., who visited the institute for a mathematical conference in 1951, and reflected on its history. The paper ends by an interview of the author with then director of the institute Martin Barner, who describes the first years of Oberwolfach after the war, especially the importance of Bourbaki in the renewal of international contacts.