Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements Editor: H.-J. Reulen Assistant Editor: H.-J. Steiger 1. Klatzo Cecile and Oskar Vogt: The Visionaries of Modern Neuroscience In Collaboration with Gabriele Zu Rhein Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement 80 Springer-V erlag Wien GmbH Prof. Df. Igor Klatzo Gaithersburg, MD, USA Prof. Df. Gabriele Zu Rhein University of Wisconsin - Madison, Medical School, Madison, WI, USA This work is subject to copyright. AII rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concemed, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machines ar similar means, and storage in data banks. Printing was supparted by Max-Planck-Institut fUr neurologische Forschung, Kiiln, and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt © 2002 Springer-Verlag Wien Originally published by Springer-Verlag Wien New York in 2002 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2002 Product Liability: The publisher can give no guarantee for ali the information contained in this book. This does also refer to information about drug dosage and application thereof. In every individual case the respective user must check its accuracy by consulting other pharmaceuticalliterature. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant proteetive laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Typesetting: Aseo Typesetters, Hong Kong Jacket illustrations: Ceeile Vogt, drawing by Gerd Aretz, reproduced from a stamp issued by Deutsehe Bundespost in 1989 within the series "Frauen der deutsehen Gesehiehte", eourtesy of Gerd Aretz; Oskar Vogt, drawing by Gustav A. Rieth, courtesy of Hedwig Rieth SPIN: 10867771 With 14 Figures CIP data supplied for ISSN 0065-1419 ISBN 978-3-7091-7291-9 ISBN 978-3-7091-6141-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-7091-6141-8 Contents Curriculum Vitae................................................................... VI Foreword by Marguerite Vogt................................................... IX Preface............................................................................... XI Acknowledgments. .. XIII Roads from Childhood to the Temples of Science Oskar.............................................................................. 1 Krupps............................................................................ 7 Cecile.............................................................................. 9 Meeting of Minds and Hearts in Paris ........................................ 11 Advancing Towards Objectives Through the Berlin Minefield Under the Mighty Shield of the Krupps "Neurological Center" ("Neurologische Zentralstation")..... ........ 15 "Neurobiological Laboratory" .............................................. 18 Kaiser Wilhelm (K -W) Brain Research Institute ........................ 22 Moscow Intermezzo............................................................ 27 Reaching the Top: K-W Brain Research Institute in Berlin-Buch Profile and the Horizons of the K -W Berlin-Buch Institute........... 39 Head-On Collision of Ideologies............................................ 42 Transfer to a Small Arena Neustadt Before and During the War .................................... .. 59 "The Liberation Day" ........................................................ 64 Post-War Dreams and Realities ............................................ 66 Personal Memories ............................................................ 71 Synopsis ............................................................................. 109 Epilogue ............................................................................. 117 References .......................................................................... 125 List of lliustrations ............................................................... 130 Curriculum Vitae of Cecile and Oskar Vogt Oskar Born: April 6th 1870 in Husum, Schleswig-Holstein Edu.: 1888-1890 University of Kie1 1890-1893 University of Jena (M.D.) 1893-1894 O. Binswanger's Clinic (Jena) 1894-1896 A. Fore1's Clinic (BurghOlzli) 1895 P. Flechsig's Clinic (Leipzig) 1896 (Meeting the Krupps) 1897-1898 1.J. Dejerine's Lab., Salpetriere (University of Paris). Cecile Born: March 27th, 1875 in Annecy, Haute-Savoie Edu.: After passing baccalaureat es sciences: 1893-1899 Medical studies at University of Paris 1897 -1899 as "interne" at the Piere Marie's Clinic at Bicetre 1900 Doctorate from University of Paris, with the thesis "Etude sur la myelinisation des hemispheres cere­ braux", dedicated to Oskar Vogt Oskar & Cecile (married in March, 1899) 1899-1902 "Neurological Center" (Neurologische Zentralsta­ tion). 1902-1914 Neurobiological Laboratory (Neurobiologisches Laboratorium) 1914-1937 Kaiser Wilhelm Brain Research Institute (Kaiser Wilhelm Institut fUr Hirnforschung) 1914-1931 at Magdeburger Strasse; 1931-1937 in Berlin-Buch 1925-1930 Directorship of the Brain Research Institute (Institut Mozga) in Moscow 1937-1959 Brain Research Institute, Neustadt/Schwarzwald (Institut fur Hirnforschung und allgemeine Biologie, Neustadt/Schwarzwald) July 31th, 1959: Death of Oskar May 4th, 1962: Death of Cecile For my friend, Jerzy (George) Olszewski, whose brilliant career in brain research was th suddenly terminated on February 13 , 1964 by a tiny heart infarct in an otherwise perfectly healthy body and For Marguerite Vogt, whose friendship sustained my inspiration to write about her legendary parents George (1913-1964) Marguerite at the Salk Institute (1998) Foreword by Marguerite Vogt I first met Dr. Igor Klatzo at my parents' Institute for Neurobiology in Neustadt/Schwarzwald, Germany, in 1946. Since my departure from Neu­ stadt for the United States in 1952, I had seen Igor only once, when he visited me at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, in the mid-fifties. Then, in the Fall of 1997, I had an unexpected visit from him in La Jolla. Igor told me that now, after retiring from the N.I.H., he would like to de­ vote his time to writing a biography of my parents, Ct~cile and Oskar Vogt, and he asked whether I could contribute some personal memories to this undertaking. Although I was happy to see Dr. Klatzo again after so many years, I promptly expressed my reservations and hesitation at the suggestion of re­ viving memories of my young years. While the years in my parents' home were rewarding and inspiring, there were also many painful memories of the Nazi time in Berlin and in Neustadt. The Nazi period and the immediate post-war years had been a traumatic period in my life, a period which I tried, as much as I could, to erase from my memory. Nonetheless, Igor was quite persuasive in describing the need for a pub­ lication in which, by using the same "multidisciplinary approach" advo­ cated by my father, the lives of Cecile an Oskar Vogt could be presented from different angles. Igor promised to illuminate the background and the nature of their various struggles aimed at maintaining a straight course in their scientific endeavors. He also convinced me that my personal memories of my parents would contribute to the presentation of them as real people. Klatzo intended to go beyond the dry obituaries and memorial articles, which in the past scrupulously listed the scientific accomplishments of my parents but left a void in understanding them as human beings. Thus, I agreed to provide him with some sketches of events in the lives of my parents, events of both a personal and scientific nature. These were re­ corded during his three visits to La Jolla, where we spent many hours rem­ iniscing about the old times. Many personal stories about my parents are thus included in this treatise, stories that are not really separable from the scientific environment in which the early developments of the neurosciences originated. I hope that recounting some of the events that surrounded the scientific work of my parents also contributes to a better understanding of their sci­ entific outlook and objectives, which have been frequently misrepresented or even maligned by my father's numerous adversaries. x Foreword by Marguerite Vogt The book describes the complex background in which early neuroscience research was pursued. The scientific work was carried out under the con­ stant influence of the major political and ideological upheavals that beset Europe in the first half of the 20th century. Thanks to Igor Klatzo's efforts, the book dwells on the scientific aspects of early neurobiological research as it was intertwined with the human survival in a politically explosive atmo­ sphere. The result is a thoroughly readable and accurate story that emphasizes the indivisibility of scientific research, the personalities involved and envi­ ronment in which the work was pursued. Marguerite Vogt M.D. The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California Preface Human greatness has many connotations. Since the requirements for membership in this category are vague and poorly defined, admittance to the Mount Olympus is frequently erratic and subjective, especially in view of a wide "penumbra zone"* of border cases. Nevertheless, rising above a twilight zone of debatable cases, there are individuals whose right for mem­ bership is unquestionable. In science, one of the unequivocal criteria for "greatness" relates to how far one's scientific achievement affects the opening ofnew horizons, and points to directions for future development and progress. Unveiling new visions can derive only from