Wilhelm Orthmann
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Orthmann was a German
physicist. He was director of the physico-technical department of the Industrial College of Berlin. During World War II, he was also employed by the Reich Aviation Ministry.
and the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (today, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
). He received his doctorate in 1926, under Peter Pringsheim, with a thesis on resonance lines.
at the University of Berlin. He completed his Habilitation
at the University of Berlin in 1931; his Habilitationsschrift was on the dielectric constants of electrolytes. From 1931, he was a Privatdozent
at the University of Berlin.
From 1938 Orthmann was an untenured ausserordentlicher Professor (extraordinarius professor), from 1940 an ausserordentlicher Professor, and from 1942 an ordentlicher Professor (ordinarius professor) and director of the physico-technical department at the Wirtschaftshochschule Berlin (Industrial College of Berlin).
Orthmann, an assistant to Walther Nernst
, helped Lise Meitner
build an improved calorimeter with which to measure the average energy per beta particle
emitted by Radium
E, i.e., 210Bi83. Their results were submitted for publication in late 1929.
The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
, passed in 1933, was substantially directed at academia and judges. The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG, German Physical Society) dragged its feet in the dismissal of Jews for more than five years. It was not until the end of 1938, on the initiation of a petition by Herbert Arthur Stuart
and Wilhelm Orthmann, who were engaged in physics studies (academic) reform, that the DPG asked Jewish members to withdraw their membership.
During World War II
, Orthmann was also employed at the Reichsluftfahrtminiterium (RLM, Reich Aviation Ministry), finally as a scientific advisor in the development of anti-aircraft artillery.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist. He was director of the physico-technical department of the Industrial College of Berlin. During World War II, he was also employed by the Reich Aviation Ministry.
Education
Orthmann studied at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-WittenbergUniversity of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
and the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (today, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
). He received his doctorate in 1926, under Peter Pringsheim, with a thesis on resonance lines.
Career
After receipt of his doctorate, he was a teaching assistant to Peter Pringsheim and Walther NernstWalther Nernst
Walther Hermann Nernst FRS was a German physical chemist and physicist who is known for his theories behind the calculation of chemical affinity as embodied in the third law of thermodynamics, for which he won the 1920 Nobel Prize in chemistry...
at the University of Berlin. He completed his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
at the University of Berlin in 1931; his Habilitationsschrift was on the dielectric constants of electrolytes. From 1931, he was a Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
at the University of Berlin.
From 1938 Orthmann was an untenured ausserordentlicher Professor (extraordinarius professor), from 1940 an ausserordentlicher Professor, and from 1942 an ordentlicher Professor (ordinarius professor) and director of the physico-technical department at the Wirtschaftshochschule Berlin (Industrial College of Berlin).
Orthmann, an assistant to Walther Nernst
Walther Nernst
Walther Hermann Nernst FRS was a German physical chemist and physicist who is known for his theories behind the calculation of chemical affinity as embodied in the third law of thermodynamics, for which he won the 1920 Nobel Prize in chemistry...
, helped Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner FRS was an Austrian-born, later Swedish, physicist who worked on radioactivity and nuclear physics. Meitner was part of the team that discovered nuclear fission, an achievement for which her colleague Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize...
build an improved calorimeter with which to measure the average energy per beta particle
Beta particle
Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. The production of beta particles is termed beta decay...
emitted by Radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
E, i.e., 210Bi83. Their results were submitted for publication in late 1929.
The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service , also known as Civil Service Law, Civil Service Restoration Act, and Law to Re-establish the Civil Service, was a law passed by the National Socialist regime on April 7, 1933, two months after Adolf...
, passed in 1933, was substantially directed at academia and judges. The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG, German Physical Society) dragged its feet in the dismissal of Jews for more than five years. It was not until the end of 1938, on the initiation of a petition by Herbert Arthur Stuart
Herbert Arthur Stuart
Herbert Arthur Stuart was a German experimental physicist who made contributions in molecular physics research. During World War II, he was director of the experimental physics department at the Technische Hochschule Dresden...
and Wilhelm Orthmann, who were engaged in physics studies (academic) reform, that the DPG asked Jewish members to withdraw their membership.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Orthmann was also employed at the Reichsluftfahrtminiterium (RLM, Reich Aviation Ministry), finally as a scientific advisor in the development of anti-aircraft artillery.
Literature by Orthmann
- L. MeitnerLise MeitnerLise Meitner FRS was an Austrian-born, later Swedish, physicist who worked on radioactivity and nuclear physics. Meitner was part of the team that discovered nuclear fission, an achievement for which her colleague Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize...
and W. Orthamann Über eine absolute Bestimmung der Energie der primären ß-Strahlen von Radium E, Z. Phys. Volume 60, 143 – 155 (1930)
- Wilhelm Orthmann Über die Ausbildung des Physikers and Bemerkung zum Frauenstudium, Deutsche Mathematik Volume 4, 117 – 126 (1939), as cited in Hentschel and Hentschel, 1996, p. LXXXII; see Reference [667]. These were Orthmann’s reports on an initiative to reform physics education presented at the first Mathematikerlager (German mathematics camp) organized by the Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Dozentenbund (NSDDB, National Socialist German University Lecturers League).