01.09.2007 - 1907 - 2007 | Manfred von Ardenne | Episode 9: Scientist and entrepreneur in the GDR

The highly decorated scientist returned from the Soviet Union in 1955. This was celebrated by the GDR leaders as a commitment to socialism. As early as in 1952, the USSR side had promised to return all of the property he was forced to take to Suchumi in 1945, under the condition that he decided to settle in the GDR.

It was against this background that Manfred von Ardenne wrested the acknowledgment from the SED leadership under Ulbricht to establish a private institute in his name.  This institute would continue to exist till the end of the GDR despite numerous attempts to nationalize it.  A comfortable tax privilege for 15 years secured growth and prosperity.  The VON ARDENNE Institute had a staff counting almost 500 members in the end, the majority of whom successfully realized close-to-industry R&D projects.

Encouraged by the twofold Nobel prize winner Otto Warburg, von Ardenne addressed a completely new work field from 1960: the fight against cancer, the scourge of humanity.

As a scientist in a privileged position he could even take the liberty to criticize government policy which he did after a period of only six months from his return.  He demanded, for instance, "less bureaucracy for R&D procuration, more willingness to accept responsibility and drive ..., more actions than words". He was a scientist using the language of an entrepreneur - an admired and envied singularity within a state-directed and ideologically laden GDR economy.

From: G. Barkleit: "Manfred von Ardenne - Selbstverwirklichung im Jahrhundert der Diktaturen" (Manfred von Ardenne - Self-fulfilment in the Century of the Dictatorships), Publisher: Duncker & Humblot, Berlin (2006)