Alexander Nikuradse
Encyclopedia
Alexander Nikuradse also known by his pseudonym Al. Sanders, (November 10, 1900 – June 13, 1981) was a Georgian
-German
physicist and political scientist.
Born in Samtredia
, Georgia (then part of Imperial Russia), he was sent by the Georgian
government to complete his studies in Berlin
. Nikuradse remained in Berlin and became a German citizen after the 1921 Red Army invasion of Georgia
. Being in a staunch opposition to the Soviet
rule in Georgia, he was actively involved in Georgian émigré activities, and had close Nazi connections. Since their common days as Soviet exiles in Munich
in the early 1920s, he had been on friendly terms with Alfred Rosenberg
whose views on the Caucasus
were largely shaped under Nikuradse's influence. He tried to lobby for an independent Georgia, and enlist the German support for anti-Soviet Georgian political emigration. Influenced by Karl Haushofer
's theory of "large spaces", he conceived an ambitious project of the German protectorate over the projected Caucasian confederation in which the Georgians were to play the leading role. During the World War II
, he used his prestige and influence to save many Georgians from Nazi repression.
As a physicist, he chiefly engaged in applied physics
; in particular he investigated dielectric materials and the theories of electron
s and ion
s.
He died in Munich, Germany. His brother, Johann Nikuradse
(1894–1979), was also a notable Germany-based physicist.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist and political scientist.
Born in Samtredia
Samtredia
Samtredia is a town in Imereti, Georgia, lying in a lowland between the rivers Rioni and Tskhenis-Tsqali, 244 km west of Tbilisi, and 27 km west of Kutaisi, the nation’s capital and the second largest city respectively. Georgia’s most important roads and railways converge there, making Samtredia...
, Georgia (then part of Imperial Russia), he was sent by the Georgian
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
government to complete his studies in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Nikuradse remained in Berlin and became a German citizen after the 1921 Red Army invasion of Georgia
Red Army invasion of Georgia
The Red Army invasion of Georgia also known as the Soviet–Georgian War or the Soviet invasion of Georgia was a military campaign by the Soviet Russian Red Army against the Democratic Republic of Georgia aimed at overthrowing the Social-Democratic government and installing the Bolshevik regime...
. Being in a staunch opposition to the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule in Georgia, he was actively involved in Georgian émigré activities, and had close Nazi connections. Since their common days as Soviet exiles in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in the early 1920s, he had been on friendly terms with Alfred Rosenberg
Alfred Rosenberg
' was an early and intellectually influential member of the Nazi Party. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart; he later held several important posts in the Nazi government...
whose views on the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
were largely shaped under Nikuradse's influence. He tried to lobby for an independent Georgia, and enlist the German support for anti-Soviet Georgian political emigration. Influenced by Karl Haushofer
Karl Haushofer
Karl Ernst Haushofer was a German general, geographer and geopolitician. Through his student Rudolf Hess, Haushofer's ideas may have influenced the development of Adolf Hitler's expansionist strategies, although Haushofer denied direct influence on the Nazi regime.-Biography:Haushofer belonged to...
's theory of "large spaces", he conceived an ambitious project of the German protectorate over the projected Caucasian confederation in which the Georgians were to play the leading role. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he used his prestige and influence to save many Georgians from Nazi repression.
As a physicist, he chiefly engaged in applied physics
Applied physics
Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
; in particular he investigated dielectric materials and the theories of electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
s and ion
Ion
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass between electrodes in a...
s.
He died in Munich, Germany. His brother, Johann Nikuradse
Johann Nikuradse
Johann Nikuradse was a Georgia-born German engineer and physicist. His brother, Alexander Nikuradse, was also a Germany-based physicist and geopolitician known for his ties with Alfred Rosenberg and for his role in saving many Georgians during World War II.He was born in Samtredia, Georgia and...
(1894–1979), was also a notable Germany-based physicist.
Works
- Al. Sanders (1942), Kaukasien, Nordkaukasien, Aserbeidschan, Armenien, Georgien, geschichtlicher Umriß. München: Hoheneichen-Verlag.
- Al. Sanders (1942), Osteuropa in kontinentaleuropaeischer Schau. München: Hoheneichen-Verlag.
- Al. Sanders (1942), Um das Erbe Großbritanniens. Zur Wandlung der politischen Struktur der Übersee. München: Hoheneichen-Verlag.
- Nikuradse, Alexander (1952), Naturwissenschaft und Technik im Leben der Völker. Oldenbourg, München.