Alwin Walther

Alwin Oswald Walther (6 May 1898 – 4 January 1967) was a German mathematician, engineer and professor. He is one of the pioneers of mechanical computing technology in Germany. Alwin Walther was born in May 1898 in Reick near Dresden. From 1916 to 1919 Walther served his military service. He was wounded twice and received the Iron Cross 1st Class. From 1919 to 1922 he studied mathematics at the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Göttingen. In 1922, he received his doctorate to Dr. rer. tech. (today according to Dr.-Ing.) from the University of Göttingen under the supervision of Gerhard Kowalewski and Max Otto Lagally. From 1922 to 1928, he was assistant and senior Assistant to Richard Courant at the Mathematical Institute at the University of Göttingen. In 1924, he habilitated and became a Privatdozent.