Otto Blumenthal: Selected letters and writings II. 1919--1944 (Q1756479)

The book, the second volume of selected letters and writings, presents documents from the period 1919--1941 (for Volume I see [Zbl 1397.01018]). The main aim of the authors is to point out Blumenthal's central role in the mathematical culture in Germany of that period. They start with a more than 70-pages long essay discussing important facts and aspects of Blumenthal's life after WWI. The topics include his role as professor at the TH Aachen, the relations to his colleagues at Aachen, the difficulties and the fight for securing the edition of the ``Mathematische Annalen'', the quarrels and discussions of European mathematicians on mathematical and political issues in the 1920's, and Blumenthal's tragic destiny during the time of National Socialism. The letters are arranged in 12 themed and chronological ordered chapters from ``Neue Spannungen in den Nachkriegsjahren (1919--1923)'' to ``Exil und Deportation (1939--1944)'' and include Blumenthal's biographical essay on David Hilbert. Each chapter is introduced by a short comment, and also several letters are supplemented by a comment. The last chapter presents eight appendices like lists of Blumenthal's publications and of his PhD students, his speeches on the mathematical educational system in Russia (given at Aachen, 1932, March 30) and on changes of the worldview (given at Den Haag, 1940, January 12) as well as his obituaries by Arnold Sommerfeld and Franz Krauss. A bibliography and a name index close the book. As it was stressed already in the review of Volume I, this two-volume book is an important contribution to the history of mathematics in the first half of the 20th century.