Albert Einstein (left) and Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe (right)
"I had to do a lot of thinking last night, but I think it was worth it..."
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe
"A truly good idea is recognizable by the fact that its realization seems impossible from the outset."
Albert Einstein
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein revolutionized navigation and shipping in Kiel-Neumühlen-Dietrichsdorf with the development of the gyrocompass. An impressive monument by renowned sculptor Jörg Plickat now commemorates these two ingenious inventors. It was unveiled on July 29, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. near the mouth of the Schwentine River in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf, at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27. Here, the ideas of these two scientists culminated in groundbreaking, creative, and application-oriented implementations.
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe (October 3, 1872 – May 6, 1931), originally a PhD in art history, developed the gyrocompass , an electromechanical instrument that could determine north independently of the Earth's magnetic field, even in submarines with a complete metal hull. He built a development building and a manufacturing plant for this purpose on the site of today's Kiel Pain Clinic at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27, at the mouth of the Schwentine River into the Kiel Fjord.
In a patent dispute in 1915, Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955; Nobel Prize 1921 for services to theoretical physics and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect) was appointed as an expert witness. The two geniuses became friends. Einstein and Anschütz-Kaempfe corresponded regularly between 1915 and 1926. In addition to discussing technical problems in the development of the gyrocompass, they also exchanged views on personal matters and world events. This correspondence reveals, among other things, that Einstein helped to improve the gyrocompass. The result was the spherical compass, for which Einstein received a share of the 1922 patent. At times, he earned more from the patent rights than from his work as a university professor. Albert Einstein spent increasing amounts of time at Heikendorfer Weg near the mouth of the Schwentine River and was given an apartment at Heikendorfer Weg 23 by Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe.
As early as 1920, Einstein was not permitted to present his theory of relativity at the University of Kiel due to his religious affiliation. The university at that time also refused to recognize Einstein's work at all. The lecture subsequently took place in the Kiel Trade Union House and was open not only to academics but to all interested members of the public. After the Nobel laureate decided he could no longer remain in Berlin due to the increasing antisemitism, he considered continuing his work in Kiel on Heikendorfer Weg. However, after careful consideration, he decided against it. Numerous events in Kiel also raised concerns about antisemitic attacks. Einstein also decided against a planned purchase of the Esmarch Villa in the Kiel University Hospital district north of the castle gardens.
In 1926, the pacifist Albert Einstein visited Kiel for the last time and left Germany forever in 1932. Thus, he never saw his beloved "Diogenes Barrel," as he affectionately called his home on Heikendorfer Weg near the mouth of the Schwendine River, again. The house at Heikendorfer Weg 23 was demolished in 1965. Raytheon Anschütz GmbH relocated production of the gyrocompass and other instruments to Zeyestraße 16-24 on the Kiel Canal. The listed building and property at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27, where Anschütz-Kaempfe and Einstein worked, is now the site of the Kiel Pain Clinic.
The memorial at the site where the two geniuses worked was created in 2022 by sculptor Prof. Jörg Plickat, based on a joint idea and a suggestion from neurologist and founder of the Kiel Pain Clinic, Prof. Dr. med. Dipl.-Psych. Hartmut Göbel. The idea originated from discussions among Kiel Rotarians. Co-initiators include Prof. Dr. Anton Eisenhauer of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Klaus-Michael Heinze, Chancellor Emeritus of Kiel University of Applied Sciences, and lawyer Dr. Johann Brunkhorst. The sculpture depicts silhouettes of the geniuses' heads, a gyrocompass, and the brain as the source of all human thoughts, emotions, creativity, and behavior. Today, the Schwentine estuary is home to institutions such as Kiel University of Applied Sciences, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and the Kiel Pain Clinic, all of which, like the Anschütz factories of old, are based on the capabilities of the human brain. The current building of the Kiel Pain Clinic was designed by architect Hans Hertlein in collaboration with Walter Gropius and Oskar Schlemmer in the Bauhaus style. It houses, among other things, an architectural replica of Oskar Schlemmer's "Schlemmer" staircase, which is now displayed as a painting in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Oskar Schlemmer's works were defamed in the 1937 "Degenerate Art" exhibition .
The studio of artist Prof. Plickat in Bredenbek, located between Kiel and Rendsburg, is the birthplace of his work. Here, Jörg Plickat creates his monumental sculptures, primarily made of bronze and Corten steel. Born in Hamburg in 1954, Jörg Plickat studied at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel. The artist initially worked figuratively before transitioning to abstraction and a cubist style in the mid-1980s. However, he never lost sight of the human form, which remains a constant presence in his works, which are known far beyond Germany's borders. Jörg Plickat, who has received numerous national and international awards, including the 2015 Macquarie Prize in Australia, has participated in over 350 exhibitions worldwide. Approximately 100 of his sculptures grace public spaces in ten countries across four continents.
Speech by Prof. Hartmut Göbel at the unveiling of the memorial on July 29, 2022
See also: Art@SH-Schleswig-Holstein & Hamburg
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A monument to Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein
“Tonight I had to think tremendous amounts, but I think it paid off…”
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe
“A really good idea can be recognized by the fact that its implementation seems impossible at the beginning.”
Albert Einstein
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe silhouette is arranged in its place
With the development of the gyrocompass, Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein revolutionized navigation and shipping. The two ingenious inventors are now commemorated by an imposing monument by the renowned sculptor Jörg Plickat, which was unveiled on July 29, 2022 in the immediate vicinity of the river mouth of the Schwentine river in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27. Here, the ideas of the two scientists resulted in groundbreaking creative and application-oriented innovations.
Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe (October 3, 1872 – May 6, 1931), actually a doctor of art history, developed the gyrocompass, an electromechanical instrument that could determine the magnetic north independently of the earth's magnetic field even in submarines with a complete metal hull. For this purpose, he built a research and manufacturing plant on the site of today's Kiel Migraine and Headache Center at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27 at the river mouth of the Schwentine river into the Kiel Fjord.
In 1915, Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955; Nobel Prize in Physics 1921 “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.”) was appointed as an expert witness in a patent dispute. The two geniuses became friends. Einstein and Anschütz-Kaempfe corresponded regularly between 1915 and 1926. In addition to technical problems in the development of the gyrocompass, they also exchanged views on private topics or world events. This correspondence shows, among other things, that Einstein helped to improve the gyrocompass. The result was the spherical compass, in the patent of which Einstein received a share in 1922. At times, he earned more from the patent rights than from his work as a university lecturer. More and more often Albert Einstein stayed at Heikendorfer Weg at the river mouth of the Schwentine river and was provided with an apartment at Heikendorfer Weg 23 from Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe.
Already in 1920 Einstein was not allowed to lecture his theory of relativity at the University of Kiel because of his religious affiliation. Furthermore, the university at that time refused to recognize Einstein's work at all. The lecture was then held at the Kiel Union House and was open not only to scientists but to all interested parties. After the Nobel Prize winner no longer wanted to stay in Berlin due to the growing anti-Semitism, he considered continuing his work in Kiel at Heikendorfer Weg. After careful consideration, however, he decided against it. Many occasions caused concern about anti-Semitic attacks in Kiel as well. Einstein decided against the actually planned purchase of the Esmarch villa in the Kiel University hospital district north of the Schlossgarten.
In 1926 Albert Einstein stayed in Kiel for the last time and left Germany for good in 1932. So he never saw his “Diogenes jar”, as he warmly called his beloved accommodation on Heikendorfer Weg at the river mouth of the Schwentine River, again. In 1965, the house at Heikendorfer Weg 23 was demolished. Raytheon Anschütz GmbH moved production of the gyrocompass and other instruments to Zeyestr. 16-24 next to the Kiel Canal after the war. The listed building and property at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27, the place where Anschütz-Kaempfe and Einstein worked, is now the site of the Kiel Headache and Pain Center.
The monument on the site of the work of the two geniuses was created by the sculptor Prof. Jörg Plickat at the suggestion of the neurologist and founder of the Pain Clinic Kiel Prof. Dr. med. Dipl.-Psych. Hartmut Göbel in 2022 following a joint idea. The idea originally arose from discussions among Kiel Rotarians. Co-initiators are Prof. Dr. Anton Eisenhauer from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Klaus-Michael Heinze, chancellor emeritus at Kiel University of Applied Sciences and lawyer Dr. Johann Brunkhorst. In addition to the silhouettes of the heads of the geniuses, the monument shows a gyrocompass and the brain as the source of all human thoughts, emotions, creative power and behavior. Today, at the Schwentine river mouth, there are institutions such as the Kiel University of Applied Sciences, the Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel and the Kiel Headache and Pain Center, which, like the Anschütz-Werke back then, are based on the achievements of the human brain. The current building of the Kiel Headache and Pain Center was created by the architect Hans Hertlein with Walter Gropius and Oskar Schlemmer in the Bauhaus architectural style. Among other things, it houses an architectural match of Oskar Schlemmer's painting of the “Schlemmer-staircase”, which today has found its home in the Museum of Moden Art in New York. The paintings of Oskar Schlemmer were defamed in the 1937 “Degenerate Art” exhibition in Munich.
The art studio of Prof. Plickat in Bredenbek, located between Kiel and Rendsburg, is where his art is created. Here Jörg Plickat constructs his monumental sculptures, which are mainly made of bronze and Corten steel. Jörg Plickat, born in Hamburg in 1954, studied at the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts in Kiel. The artist was initially figurative before moving to abstraction and cubic language in the mid-1980s. However, he did not disregard the human form, which is always noticeable in his works, which are known beyond the borders of Germany. The recipient of numerous national and international awards, including the 2015 Macquarie Prize in Australia, Jörg Plickat has participated in over 350 exhibitions worldwide. Around 100 of his sculptures decorate public spaces in ten countries on four continents.
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Letters from Albert Einstein in Kiel to Else Einstein
View from Einstein's apartment at the mouth of the Schwentine River in Kiel, Heikendorfer Weg 23
Tuesday, September 14, 1920
Dear Else!
I arrived here after a happy and comfortable journey, where Mr. Anschütz was waiting for me on the platform. I've rarely had such a wonderful time—I don't say this to increase the agony of your journey, but simply to let you share in the experience in your imagination. We traveled from the train station in Mr. Anschütz's motorboat to a landing stage belonging to the Anschütz villa. It sits right on the water, on a small rise in the middle of a magnificent garden. I was then led up to the villa's attic, where there's a charming little apartment for guests, consisting of two small, tastefully furnished rooms with every comfort one could desire and a splendid view across Kiel Bay. Breakfast is also served, so I'm surrounded by unsurpassed peace and quiet and hardly notice that I'm a visitor. What's more, Mr. Anschütz and his wife are quiet and cheerful people who have no idea what fidgeting and rushing means. Last night I went to see Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with Mrs. Anschütz. The performance was rather inadequate, the composition magnificent, but not in line with my ideal. Mrs. Anschütz is still very young, pretty, more body than brains: she was quite amused by the prospect of mothering me, because the parental relationship would be far better the other way around, even if such a voluptuous daughter with reddish-blond hair would always leave a suspicious question mark in my eyes. Today I'm going to a lecture by Becker on German educational issues and then—unfortunately!—to an official banquet. (Nothing to be done about it). My lecture is tomorrow morning. Spengler isn't coming. In general, it seems to me that Kiel Week isn't going to grow beyond the local level. Stuffy, bureaucratic crowd, stupid and stuffy. There's not a seat to be had for my sermon, but I think the people there will get even less out of it than—I will. Think of the house and the sailboat. We must also create a more humane existence for ourselves, even if it is in all its rural simplicity. There's something beautiful about a tranquil life. This is now being brought vividly into focus for me. Berlin is nerve-wracking and deprives me of the possibility of quiet contemplation. Sending kisses to Ilse and Margot from your
Albert.
I also send greetings to the grandparents and Anna, and also to the minstrel Moszkowski and his wife. Greetings from the Anschützen family, who regret your cancellation. Goodbye Saturday. I will probably have to leave on Friday.
——-
Kiel, October 11, 1926
Dear Else,
I arrived here last night and spent a pleasant few hours with Anschütz. I've already accomplished everything I wanted to. 1) I'll receive 1% of the sales price of all instruments that utilize the concept I proposed. This can be extremely beneficial to us. 2) I've arranged for my invention from last year to be patented and utilized. I'm considered a co-inventor and will receive half of any license fees paid by third-party manufacturers. Everything will be officially documented in writing tomorrow, and I can take it with me. I didn't negotiate with Anschütz directly, but with Mr. Otto, the company's managing director. He was pleased that I took the initiative for this settlement and explicitly stated that my contribution to the whole matter is crucial and that they all understand this. The fact that last year's deal initially went unnoticed is solely due to the fact that no one understood it last year, but now Mr. Richter is very keen on it. I'm happy to note that everyone behaved very kindly. Do you see that I'm not too shy or stupid to exercise my rights? I told you so. All these rights are hereditary, by the way. What strange things are you writing about Mrs. Lebach? Do you think I would be capable of being so disloyal to a splendid man whose hospitality I enjoyed and with whom I was friends? I myself believe that Mrs. Lebach liked me, but it's impossible that anyone else noticed that it was even a suspicion on my part. Tania Ehrenfest is exceptionally gifted. I gave her various things related to my theory, and she solved them immediately, that is, in one day. If she were a man, something significant would come of it. But I don't think she'll have the energy for it. Little Paul, who is only 11 years old, is already very skillful. When he's older, he's supposed to apprentice with Anschütz. I've made arrangements with Maschke, but I doubt it will last, as most of his protégé's inventions aren't worth much. Perhaps I'll manage to find something significant there myself, which would speed things up. I'll be back in Berlin on the evening of the 13th or the morning of the 14th. Until then, best regards to you and the children, yours
Albert
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Pictures of the work of Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein at the
mouth of the
Planning and creation of the monument to Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert
Einstein
Construction of the monument to Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein, July 18–21, 2022
Public presentation on July 29, 2022
of the
monument to Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and Albert Einstein
Left
Timeline of the life of Dr. Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe and the development of the Anschütz company.
Expert opinion by Albert Einstein in the patent dispute Anschütz-Kaempfe vs. Sperry before the Kiel Regional Court.
The Anschütz-Kaempfe Trough was named after Dr. Anschütz-Kaempfe. It is a lake basin in the Lazarev Sea off the Princess Martha Coast of Queen Maud Land.
Wikipedia Dr. Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe.
Wikipedia Prof. Albert Einstein.
https://dewiki.de/Lexikon/Kreiselkompass
Albert Einstein and Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe in the Schleswig-Holstein State Library.
Albert Einstein: Gyrocompass and other inventions
The video shows the mouth of the Schwentine River into the Kiel Fjord, including the area at Heikendorfer Weg 9-27. Albert Einstein and Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe worked here. Albert Einstein regularly stayed at Heikendorfer Weg and was given an apartment at Heikendorfer Weg 23 by Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe.
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