Helmut Winterhager

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Helmut Winterhager (born June 14, 1911 in Elberfeld , † April 1, 2002 in Aachen ) was a German university professor for metallurgy and electrometallurgy and rector of RWTH Aachen University .

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After graduating from high school, Winterhager studied metal science at the Technical University of Aachen from 1930 and graduated in 1936 with an engineering degree . A year earlier he became Paul Röntgen's assistant . Winterhager was one of his most important collaborators and supported him in his research in the field of electrolytic metal extraction and the refining of aluminum . In 1939 he received his doctorate with the topic: " On the solubility of hydrogen in aluminum and magnesium ".

Winterhager then took up his work as a production and test engineer at Elektrowerk Weisweiler until 1942 on behalf of the institute and to deepen his practical experience . He then returned to the TH Aachen, where he was given a teaching position for electrothermal energy and was taken on as a senior engineer at the Institute for Metallurgy. At this institute Winterhager, who had already joined the SA in May 1933 as a troop leader and joined the NSDAP from 1937 , carried out work on war-related research assignments for the Air Force until the end of the war as an expert in iron alloys .

After the end of the Second World War and the relevant denazification process , RWTH Aachen appointed him to the chair of metallurgy and electrometallurgy in the Faculty of Mining and Metallurgy on May 1, 1952. Winterhager held this position until his retirement in 1977; His student Joachim Krüger was the successor to the chair for metallurgy . Winterhager headed the university as its rector from 1959 to 1961 as the successor to Herwart Opitz . During this time, together with other colleagues, he wrote numerous specialist articles, the majority of which he published in the volumes of the research reports of North Rhine-Westphalia, published by Westdeutscher Verlag . In addition, Winterhager was a member of the German Society for Material Science .

For his post-war earnings, Winterhager was awarded the title of Dr. hc honored and in 1986 "... in recognition of his great services to the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen as well as for his ongoing commitment to this university and his endeavors to develop connections to external institutions and universities " appointed honorary senator of the RWTH .

Works (selection)

  • See web link: detailed list of publications in the DNB

Literature and Sources

  • Ulrich Kalkmann: The Technical University of Aachen in the Third Reich (1933–1945) . Verlag Mainz, Aachen 2003, ISBN 3-86130-181-4 , p. 515

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Winterhager, Helmut
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German university professor for metallurgy and electrometallurgy as well as rector of RWTH Aachen University
DATE OF BIRTH June 14, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH Elberfeld
DATE OF DEATH April 1, 2002
Place of death Aachen