Unequal partners in mathematics in the ``Third Reich'': Heinrich Behnke and Wilhelm Süss (Q1811229)

This richly documented article reports on the biographies of two influential mathematicians during the Nazi period and their collaboration. One of them, Heinrich Behnke (1898--1979), was influential as a function theorist and tried to continue communication with foreign colleagues, such as French Henri Cartan, and to help them under conditions of German occupation. The other one, Wilhelm Süss (1895--1958) was influential as an administrator, especially as president of the Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung. In this position he complied with Nazi policies, especially with respect to the expulsion of Jews. At the same time he pursued certain policies with respect to the restructuring of mathematical journals, which met with reservation on the part of his mathematical colleagues. However, Süss behaved in a moderate manner vis-a-vis colleagues such as Behnke, who became increasingly dependent on his decisions. After the war, mathematicians such as Behnke reciprocated and secured Süss's survival in the mathematical community of West Germany. H. Cartan supported the Mathematical Research Institute in Oberwolfach, which had been founded by Süss in 1944, although Behnke's influence with Süss had not been able to prevent the execution of Cartan's brother Louis by the Nazis.