History of Leningrad mathematics in the first half of the 20th century (Q2330579)

The article is based on a chapter of the monograph `Mathematical Petersburg. History, science, sights' published 2018 in Russian. It recalls the tragic history of an important mathematical centre comprising before World War I such prominent men as M. V. Ostrogradsky, V. Ya. Bunyakovsky, P. L. Chebyshev, A. A. Markov, among others. World War I brought at first misery and hunger, but after the Bolshevik Revolution there came still harder times, full of contempt and persecution. Only some examples: In 1922, authorities exiled from Petersburg around 160 scientists boarded in two German ships, because, as Trotsky put it, ``there was no ground to shoot them dead, but it was impossible to tolerate them''. As long as it was possible, some were going abroad voluntarily. The All-Russian Congress of Mathematicians, held 1927 in Moscow, declared mathematics to be ``a party and class science''. In consequence, ``wreckers'' were chased, some professors dismissed, while the government insisted on electing its nominees to the Academy of Sciences. In 1930, there came mass arrests on fabricated evidence. In 1931, the Society of Marxist Mathematicians issued a pamphlet ``On the Leningrad mathematical front'' accusing the mathematical community in the city (in 1924--1991 the city was called Leningrad) of neglecting practice, opposing reforms, cliquishness etc. Some people were forced to write letters of contrition and the old Physical and Mathematical Society was dissolved. In 1933, the Academy of Sciences was transferred to Moscow. In 1936, the ``Pulkovo case'' was framed up in Leningrad, in consequence of which more than one hundred scientists were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. World War II brought the siege of Leningrad which lasted nearly 900 days and took terrible toll from cold and starvation (houses were not heated, water pipes frozen, and the daily portion of bread fell down to 250 g for workers and 125 g for other employees). Some major scientists were evacuated while people who stayed were dying each day in thousands. The first post-war decade was marred by anti-Semitism and even after Stalin's death in 1953 some scientists were still plagued for their ethnic descent or for political reasons. The tragic era lasted for around 70 years, and it borders a miracle that in spite of all that, a mathematical community has continued to exist. The article tells that tragic story full of misery and disasters, but also of sacrifice, stubborness and research efforts.