Matematikk i krisetid : matematikk og matematikere etter første verdenskrig, i mellomkrigstiden og under andre verdenskrig i Nederland

Abstract

We have provided new and partly unknown historical material on an important period of social, political and scientific development and change both in the Netherlands and internationally. We focused on the so far neglected history of mathematics in the Netherlands between the Two World Wars, including the period of political “cleansing” after the War. We have collected and commented biographical material on all leading Dutch mathematicians of the period as far we could reach it. We investigated in particular the political behavior of teaching personnel and of students and found differences both individually and between various institutions. We have come to the conclusion that the situation was very nuanced and complicated and that even signing of declarations of loyalty for the German occupies did not rule out resistance on the part of those who signed. For the same reason some of the policies of the commission for political cleansing after the war were ill-informed and one sided. We found that the period under investigation brought a substantial push of modernization to Dutch mathematics, both in terms of political awareness and of tendencies towards social needs, among them mathematical applications. We hope that the material presented gives stimulus for further historical discussion and will be enriched by further studies.