The Moravian crossroads. Mathematics and mathematicians in Brno between German traditions and Czech hopes

TL;DR

This paper examines the historical development of the mathematical community in Brno from 1900 to 1930, highlighting the cultural and political shifts affecting its organization and institutions amidst World War I and the formation of Czechoslovakia.

Contribution

It provides a detailed historical analysis of the evolving mathematical community in Brno, focusing on the transition from German to Czech dominance and institutional changes during a turbulent period.

Findings

German Technical University was the main mathematical hub before WWI.

Post-war, Masaryk University became the central institution for mathematics.

The community faced challenges in German-Czech coexistence amidst political changes.

Abstract

In the paper, we study the situation of the mathematical community in Brno, the maintown of Moravia, between 1900 and 1930. During this time, the First World War and, as one of its consequences, the creation of the new independent Czechoslovakia, created a major perturbation and was the occasion of a reorganization of the community. Its German and Czech sides were in particular constantly looking for a renewed cohabitation which proved difficult to establish along the sliding of political power from the Germans to the Czechs . We try to illustrate how before the war the main place for mathematics in Brno was the German Technical University whereas after the war it became the newly created Masaryk university.