Deutsche Mathematik

Deutsche Mathematik
DisciplineMathematics, Nazi propaganda
LanguageGerman
Edited byLudwig Bieberbach
Publication details
History1936 – 1944
Publisher
Theodor Vahlen; Publishing house: S. Hirzel (Leipzig)
Frequencybi-monthly (delays in volumes 6–7)
Standard abbreviations
ISO 4Dtsch. Math.

Deutsche Mathematik (German Mathematics) was a mathematics journal founded in 1936 by Ludwig Bieberbach and Theodor Vahlen. Vahlen was publisher on behalf of the German Research Foundation (DFG), and Bieberbach was chief editor. Other editors were Fritz Kubach [de], Erich Schönhardt, Werner Weber (all volumes), Ernst August Weiß (volumes 1–6), Karl Dörge [de], Wilhelm Süss (volumes 1–5), Günther Schulz (de), Erhard Tornier [de] (volumes 1–4), Georg Feigl, Gerhard Kowalewski (volumes 2–6), Maximilian Krafft [de], Willi Rinow, Max Zacharias [de] (volumes 2–5), and Oswald Teichmüller (volumes 3–7).[1] In February 1936, the journal was declared the official organ of the German Student Union (DSt) by its Reichsführer, and all local DSt mathematics departments were requested to subscribe and actively contribute.[2] In the 1940s, issues appeared increasingly delayed and bunched; the journal ended with a triple issue (due Dec 1942) in June 1944.[3][4]

Deutsche Mathematik is also the name of a movement closely associated with the journal whose aim was to promote "German mathematics" and eliminate "Jewish influence" in mathematics, similar to the Deutsche Physik movement. As well as articles on mathematics, the journal published propaganda articles giving the Nazi viewpoint on the relation between mathematics and race[5][6][7] (though these political articles mostly disappeared after the first two volumes). As a result of this many mathematics libraries outside Germany did not subscribe to it, so copies of the journal can be hard to find. This caused some problems in Teichmüller theory, as Oswald Teichmüller published several of his foundational papers in the journal.

  1. ^ Volume tables of contents
  2. ^ Vol.1, issue 2, p.122-123, Communication of the DSt's Reichsfachabteilung mathematics by Fritz Kubach
  3. ^ Record Archived 2015-02-27 at the Wayback Machine at Technische Universität Berlin library
  4. ^ Issue list of volume 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 at commons
  5. ^ Moritz Epple and Volker Remmert and Norbert Schappacher, ed. (2010). History of Mathematics in Germany, 1920—1960 (PDF) (Report). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach. pp. 109–140. In particular: Philipp Kranz, The journal "Deutsche Mathematik" (1936-1942/44), p. 132—134. "His [Bieberbach's] further aim was to integrate and legitimize mathematics in the Nazi ideology." (p.132) — "In the so called 'work' part, alongside articles about questions of education of mathematics on school and university many articles with political/ideological contents were placed." (p.133)
  6. ^ Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS (1939). 1st Quarterly Situation Report. Vol. 2. In der Mathematik beginnt man jedoch allmählich die artgebundene Schaffensweise des Mathematikers zu erkennen, wozu die mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft herausgegebene Zeitschrift 'Deutsche Mathematik' wesentlich beigetragen hat. [In mathematics, they begin to gradually recognize the species-bound method of working of the mathematician, for which the journal 'Deutsche Mathematik', published with support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, has essentially contributed.] Cited from Lothar Mertens (2004). 'Nur politisch Würdige'. Die DFG-Forschungsförderung im Dritten Reich 1933–1937. Oldenbourg Akademieverlag. p. 86. ISBN 978-3-05-003877-3.
  7. ^ Friedrich Drenckhahn (Jan 1937). "Das Gesetz zum Schutze des deutschen Blutes und der deutschen Ehre vom 15. September 1935 im Lichte der volkswissenschaftlichen Statistik" [The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour in the Light of Ethnographical(?) Statistics]. Deutsche Mathematik. 1 (6): 716–732.