occasionally, which led – for example – to premature explosions. By carrying out systematic tests, Staudinger’s staff found out that traces of sulphuric acid in the nitrocellulose were
the reason for why the nitrocellulose was not stable in storage. The precondition for high
storage stability was to wash out the nitrocellulose thoroughly, in the context of which the
sulphuric acid ester groups needed to be hydrolysed too. The sulphuric acid was a necessary
component of the nitration mixture. I am not aware of the details of this work. [. . .] Other
work done during the war related to the plastics sector and the synthesis factor sector,
e.g. polyamides.
(Letter written by Gerhard Bier to Ute Deichmann on 2 September 1996, quoted from [19],
412)
3.10 Funding from Industry
There is no doubt about it: between 1939 and 1945, the most important institute at
Freiburg University as far as the war effort was concerned – alongside the physics
institute – was the chemical institute (for details see [39], p. 223, and [38], p. 11,
footnote 32) and it received appropriate funding. This funding came from many
different sources, with “industry providing far more money for (Staudinger’s, editor’s
note) research than the Emergency Association/German Research Association” [19,
p. 401]:
• “As an external member of staff, Staudinger received RM 10,000 per year from
I. G. Farben from 1927 to 1937 for studying rubber and high-molecular natural
and artificial substances/plastics. [. . .] In 1943, Staudinger became an external
member of the staff of I. G. again, this company supporting him to the tune of
10,000 RM in both 1943 and 1944.” [19, pp. 400–401; cf. p. 241]. Westermann
[17, p. 68] points out in this context: “This means that he had additional research
funds at his disposal that amounted to far more than half of his annual income as
professor. Between 1930 and 1932, Staudinger earned RM 1,166.66 per month,
increasing to RM 1,350.66 with all allowances.”
• “Staudinger’s research into cellulose and other fibres started to receive funding
from the Emergency Association/German Research Association in 1936. He
received regular support of between RM 3,000 and RM 12,000 per year until
1943” [19, p. 401]. The funds provided by the German Research Association and
the Reich Research Council are said [19, p. 232] to total RM 66,160 in the period
1934–1945.
• “Staudinger’s work [. . .] was also funded by the Reich economic development
authorities as of 1941; the amounts provided are not known” [19, p. 412].
This list is in curious contrast to Staudinger’s own statements after the war: “The
research activities of the undersigned were made more difficult by the fact that he
was viewed unfavourably by the party [. . .]. Due to the position adopted by the
party, other major authorities, such as the Reich Research Council, the Reich
economic development authorities, etc., were influenced either to refuse funding
for the work at the institute here or only to approve minor financial support” [37,
p. 11].
Courageous Questioning of Established Thinking: The Life and Work of Hermann. . .
123
the reason for why the nitrocellulose was not stable in storage. The precondition for high
storage stability was to wash out the nitrocellulose thoroughly, in the context of which the
sulphuric acid ester groups needed to be hydrolysed too. The sulphuric acid was a necessary
component of the nitration mixture. I am not aware of the details of this work. [. . .] Other
work done during the war related to the plastics sector and the synthesis factor sector,
e.g. polyamides.
(Letter written by Gerhard Bier to Ute Deichmann on 2 September 1996, quoted from [19],
412)
3.10 Funding from Industry
There is no doubt about it: between 1939 and 1945, the most important institute at
Freiburg University as far as the war effort was concerned – alongside the physics
institute – was the chemical institute (for details see [39], p. 223, and [38], p. 11,
footnote 32) and it received appropriate funding. This funding came from many
different sources, with “industry providing far more money for (Staudinger’s, editor’s
note) research than the Emergency Association/German Research Association” [19,
p. 401]:
• “As an external member of staff, Staudinger received RM 10,000 per year from
I. G. Farben from 1927 to 1937 for studying rubber and high-molecular natural
and artificial substances/plastics. [. . .] In 1943, Staudinger became an external
member of the staff of I. G. again, this company supporting him to the tune of
10,000 RM in both 1943 and 1944.” [19, pp. 400–401; cf. p. 241]. Westermann
[17, p. 68] points out in this context: “This means that he had additional research
funds at his disposal that amounted to far more than half of his annual income as
professor. Between 1930 and 1932, Staudinger earned RM 1,166.66 per month,
increasing to RM 1,350.66 with all allowances.”
• “Staudinger’s research into cellulose and other fibres started to receive funding
from the Emergency Association/German Research Association in 1936. He
received regular support of between RM 3,000 and RM 12,000 per year until
1943” [19, p. 401]. The funds provided by the German Research Association and
the Reich Research Council are said [19, p. 232] to total RM 66,160 in the period
1934–1945.
• “Staudinger’s work [. . .] was also funded by the Reich economic development
authorities as of 1941; the amounts provided are not known” [19, p. 412].
This list is in curious contrast to Staudinger’s own statements after the war: “The
research activities of the undersigned were made more difficult by the fact that he
was viewed unfavourably by the party [. . .]. Due to the position adopted by the
party, other major authorities, such as the Reich Research Council, the Reich
economic development authorities, etc., were influenced either to refuse funding
for the work at the institute here or only to approve minor financial support” [37,
p. 11].
Courageous Questioning of Established Thinking: The Life and Work of Hermann. . .
123