Mathwar/Personlist/Walther Alwin
Alwin Walther
(* May 6th 1898 in Dresden, † January 4th 1967 in Darmstadt)
German Mathematician, Ingeneur and Professor. Pioneer in automatic Calculations.
Life
After School he started working for the IPM company which was building automatic/mechanical calculators. Shortly after beginning of WW2 IPM got an order to solve balistical calculations for the V2-rocket. After solving this with an autmatic calculator, more orders for compenents of the V2 got to IPM. Walther was not a Nazi, but he had no doubts using the system. He used work of colleagues who were forced to work in concentration camps. After the war the United States wanted to hire him for their rocket Research. He refused the offer because of the war related work which was against his pacifistic oppinion. He worked for the university Darmstadt and got them the first industrial build computer and a unique computer library. Also he founded the german calculation Centre Darmstad.
He achieved great things for Science, but he never showed remorse for his doings.