Erwin Amlacher (1922 - 2009)

In April 2009, Prof. Dr. Erwin Amlacher passed away at the age of 86. Born and raised in Transylvania, he first had to serve in the Romanian, then in the German army during World War II. Following a severe injury, he was captured by the Americans, whence he was able to flee to his wife in the Soviet occupation zone. From 1947 to 1952, he studied at the University of Jena, obtaining a degree in biology (Diplom) and passing the preliminary medical exam for human medicine (Physikum). Subsequently, his path led him to Berlin to the "Institut für Binnenfischerei der Deutschen Akademie für Landwirtschaftswissenschaften," where he concentrated on studying fresh-water fish diseases and diagnostics. This work led to the awarding of his doctorate in natural sciences (Dr. rer. nat) in 1956 at the Humboldt-University, Berlin.

As one of the leading scientists in this field, he investigated "Infectious Dropsy," and Fish mycobacteriosis, among other diseases. In 1961 the fruit of his works was published for the first time, the "Fish Diseases Textbook" ("Taschenbuch der Fischkrankheiten"). Up until 1992, it reached six editions. This standard work was also translated into English and Spanish and was for many young scientists and practitioners - as well as for the author of this obituary - their first manual on fish diseases.

Due to his political attitude, he had to leave the "Institut für Binnenfischerei" in 1962, but found a new position in Berlin-Buch at the "Institut für Krebsforschung" (Institute of Cancer Research),  where he developed new methods in the field of autoradiography that led to an understanding of how tumors are caused by chemical pollutants. In 1964, he habilitated at the Humbolt University and taught fish diseases at the veterinary department. He changed over to the "Institut für Pathologie" (Institute of Pathology) at the University of Jena, where he continued his cancer research as head of the department. Political reasons forced him to give up teaching and were the cause for his not being promoted to professor. He devoted himself to fish diseases again until he retired, which was reflected in the ever increasing size of the manual, which soon became a reference work.

Even before reunification, he succeeded in obtaining a visiting professorship at the Munich Veterinary Department at the institute of the author of this obituary in 1988. The day of reunification, November 9, 1989, I spent visiting Amlacher in Jena. In 1993, the Free State of Thuringia rehabilitated him by appointing him as an extraordinary professor. Apart from his scientific area of expertise, Amlacher was committed to the history of his home Transylvania and published several essays on the subject.
Erwin Amlacher was a straightforward man, living his convictions, albeit not always diplomatically. He did not allow himself to be taken in by the political system of the German Democratic Republic.
Against all odds, he was able to work successfully and gained international recognition in the field of fish diseases. With him, we lose a scientist who possessed a solid foundation, someone who rendered considerable contributions to fish pathology, and who remained true to himself even in difficult situations. His remaining years he spent with his family, marked by illness. We will keep Erwin Amlacher in our fondest memories.