In 1929 Tsingtao was occupied by the Guomindang troops, and the Guomindang regime lasted until December 31 st 1937. On Sept. 21 st 1930 the National Tsingtao University was established. The University comprised two Colleges, divided into seven departments, namely a College of Art and a College of Science. In May 1931 the Department of Education was enlarged into a separate College.
In summer 1932 there were troubles with the students, which led to the dismissal of all students. A Committee of Nine for the rehabilitation of Tsingtao University was then formed by the Ministry of Education. At its first meeting several important decisions were taken. The name of the University was changed from the „National Tsingtao University“ to the „National University of Shantung.“ A reorganisation was also decided upon. The 2 Colleges of Art and Science were combined into one College of Art and Science to be opened at Tsingtao. It was further decided to open 2 Colleges, viz: a College of Engineering in Tsingtao (with a Department of Civil Engineering and a Department of Mechanical Engineering) and a College of Agriculture in Tsinan. The National University of Shantung until 1937 therefore consisted of 3 colleges.
In the years 1934-37 at least 5 professors or lecturers from Germany taught at the university in Tsingtao. Two of them were Jewish (Dr. Igel and Dr.Stein) and apparently had left Germany in 1933 or 1934 because of the Nazi regime in Germany, a third lecturer‘s wife (Dipl. Ing. Pfeil) was Jewish. The Japanese, who had occupied Tsingtao in Jan. 1938, closed the Shantung University.
The biographies of the 3 professors I have only in German language:
1) Prof. Dr. Martin Igel, * 19.1.1879, verheiratet, 2 Kinder. Fachgebiet: Lokomotivbau, Maschinelle Bahnhofseinrichtungen. 1898-1903 studierte er Eisenbahn-Maschinenbau an der TH Charlottenburg. 1904 Dr.phil. in Erlangen. 1905-09 Industrietätigkeit: in Deutschland in den Firmen Orenstein-Koppel und dann Borsig (Lokomotivfabrik), in den USA bei Baldwin in Philadelphia und Westinghouse in Pittsburgh. Von 1909 bis 1933 an der Technischen Hochschule Berlin-Charlottenburg: zunächst Assistent beim Lehrstuhl für Eisenbahn-Maschinenbau. 1916 Privatdozent, 1919 Titular-Professor, 1922 außerordentlicher Professor.
Berufen wurde Prof. Igel nach Tsingtau durch den chines. Präsidenten der Universität, Chao Ch’i, auf Empfehlung von Dr. Stein, der bereits an der Univ. in Tsingtau tätig war.
1938 Emigration weiter nach Großbritannien.
2) Dr. phil. Georg Stein, * 4.12.1903 in Dresden, ledig. Chemiker. Kam Mitte 1934 nach Tsingtau, wurde dort Leiter des Department of Chemistry an der Universität. Die Ausbildung von Georg Stein: Volksschule und dann Kirschner Oberrealchule in Berlin. Studium der Chemie an der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Berlin. Letzte Tätigkeit in Deutschland vor der Ausreise: private wissenschaftliche und kaufmännische Tätigkeit.
3) Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Pfeil, * Prenzlau 3.12.1907. Er besuchte das städtische Gymnasium in Prenzlau 1914-26. Studium an der TH in Berlin-Charlottenburg 1926-32, Diplom vom 19.12.1932. Ausgebildet als Elektrotechniker, speziell in der Röhren-Meßtechnik. Berufen wurde er durch Univ.-Präsident Chao Ch’i, vermittelt durch Siemens China Co. In Tsingtau traf er am 10.11.1933 ein, er unterrichtet Physik und Starkstromtechnik. Er ist mit einer jüdischen Frau verheiratet: Rosemarie Unger, * Prenzlau 31.7.1907. Sie ist Zahnärztin, Prüfungsurkunde des Preuß. Ministers des Inneren vom 25.8.1933.
Im Januar 1938 wurde Tsingtau von den Japanern besetzt und sie schlossen die Universität in Tsingtau. Die oben genannten Dozenten verließen daraufhin die Stadt.
English automatic translation:
1) Prof. Dr. Martin Igel, born January 19, 1879, married, two children. Field of expertise: locomotive construction, mechanical railway station equipment. From 1898 to 1903, he studied railway engineering at the Technical University of Charlottenburg. In 1904, he received his doctorate in philosophy in Erlangen. 1905-09 Industrial activity: in Germany at Orenstein-Koppel and then Borsig (locomotive factory), in the USA at Baldwin in Philadelphia and Westinghouse in Pittsburgh. From 1909 to 1933 at the Technical University of Berlin-Charlottenburg: initially assistant at the Chair of Railway Mechanical Engineering. In 1916, he became a private lecturer, in 1919 a titular professor, and in 1922 an associate professor.
Prof. Igel was appointed to Tsingtau by the Chinese president of the university, Chao Ch’i, on the recommendation of Dr. Stein, who was already working at the university in Tsingtau.
1938 Emigration to Great Britain.
2) Dr. phil. Georg Stein, born December 4, 1903, in Dresden, single. Chemist. Came to Tsingtau in mid-1934, where he became head of the Department of Chemistry at the university. Georg Stein’s education: elementary school and then Kirschner Oberrealschule in Berlin. Studied chemistry at Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin. Last occupation in Germany before leaving: private scientific and commercial activities.
3) Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Pfeil, born in Prenzlau on December 3, 1907. He attended the municipal high school in Prenzlau from 1914 to 1926. He studied at the Technical University in Berlin-Charlottenburg from 1926 to 1932, graduating on December 19, 1932. Trained as an electrical engineer, specializing in tube measurement technology. He was appointed by University President Chao Ch’i, through the mediation of Siemens China Co. He arrived in Tsingtau on November 10, 1933, where he teaches physics and heavy current technology. He is married to a Jewish woman: Rosemarie Unger, born in Prenzlau on July 31, 1907. She is a dentist, with a certificate of examination from the Prussian Minister of the Interior dated August 25, 1933.
In January 1938, Tsingtau was occupied by the Japanese, who closed the university in Tsingtau. The above-mentioned lecturers subsequently left the city.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The above text was compiled by: Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Matzat