Kaiser Wilhelm society

record of a conference regarding the Kaiser Wilhelm institute of physics [june 22, 1934]

pp. 79-82

in: Klaus Hentschel (ed), Physics and national socialism, Basel, Birkhäuser, 1996

Abstract

By way of introduction Privy Councillor Planck pointed to the great and as yet incalculable scientific importance of atomic research, which the new institute intends to focus on especially.[⁵] He reported that Prof. Debye at Leipzig, who is the leading man in the field in question, has been successfully enlisted as director of the institute.[⁶] He said, the Prussian Cultural Ministry also attaches the greatest importance to the institute being built for Professor Debye, since it intends to call him to the University of Berlin as successor to Privy Councillor Nernst. [⁷] He hoped that the Rockefeller Foundation, which had already approved 1.5 million reichsmarks some years ago for the construction of the institute, would keep to its promise, even though he could not conceal certain misgivings regarding the current unfavorable sentiment in the U.S.A. towards Germany. [⁸] The remaining question now is to find out whether the additional financial conditions are met, so that he can submit a new application to the Rockefeller Foundation.