Prof. Dr. phil. Alexander Witting (1861--1946): an actor in mathematical-scientific professional associations, an author and an editor (Q2912411)

This biographical note is in the style of an éloge and not of a critical biography. As any decent éloge, however, it offers a useful overview which will benefit whoever might wish to undertake a more thorough analysis.NEWLINENEWLINEWe are informed about Witting's education at the Dresdner städtisches Gymnasium zum Heiligen Kreuz and at the Lehrerabteilung of the Dresdner Polytechnikum (eventually Technische Hochschule Dresden) and his later career (from Oberlehrer to Professor) at the former institution, alongside his activity as an assistant at the latter; about the character of the two institutions, and about Witting's teachers and colleagues there; about his scientific publications and his commitment in the Mathematische Sektion der naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft ISIS (the mathematical society of Dresden under the DMV), in particular aiming at an educational reform adjusting Gymnasium to University mathematics along the lines propagated by Felix Klein and the Förderverein and in collaboration with Walter Lietzmann.NEWLINENEWLINEDuring WW I, Witting enlisted, teaching military matters with the rank of a Major. During the Third Reich, he was submitted to certain restrictions as a ``half-Jew'', but less than others in the same situation (no details nor reasons are given). After the War, true to himself, he returned in public with an appeal not to despise the teaching of technical mathematics.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 1242.01001].