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Wolfgang KrauseGerman linguist, Celtologist, runologist, employee of the Ahnenerbe.
Date of Birth: 18.09.1895
Country:  Germany |
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Wolfgang Krause
Wolfgang Krause was a renowned German philologist, Celtologist, and runologist. A member of the Ahnenerbe organization, he made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics and ancient Scandinavian history.
Early Life and Education
Krause commenced his studies in classical philology and Indo-Germanic languages at the University of Berlin and Göttingen in 1914. By 1920, he had completed his coursework.
Academic Career
Krause's academic career began in earnest in 1929 when he became the Head of the Department of Indo-Germanic Linguistics at the University of Königsberg. Here, he focused his research on the cultural history of ancient Scandinavia, runology, and Tocharistics.
In 1937, he relocated to Göttingen and established the Institute of Runology in 1938. However, due to financial constraints resulting from the outbreak of war, the institute came under the jurisdiction of the SS.
From 1943 to 1944, Krause led the Research and Teaching Department of Runes and Symbols within the Ahnenerbe. During his tenure, he collaborated with Karl Weigel, whom he criticized for his amateurish approach.
After the war, Krause retained his position at the university. From 1950 to 1963, he directed the Linguistics Seminar and the Scandinavian Seminar, which was connected to the Institute of Runology. He became recognized as one of the leading experts in runology and Scandinavian studies in West Germany.
Medical Condition and Legacy
Throughout his life, Krause struggled with an eye condition that eventually led to blindness in his later years. Despite this impediment, he continued to make significant contributions to his field, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a prominent scholar in linguistics and ancient Scandinavian history.
