Selbstdarstellung und Legendenbildung um das Müller-Unkelsche Lenard-Rohr

Abstract

Ph. Lenard—the well known Nobel prize winner—felt to be deceived concerning the discovery of the X-rays by a ungrateful and jewish dominated fate. He complained over an insufficient appreciation of his precursory research work by the definitive discoverer W. C. Rontgen. Lenard proved this interpretation by his contributions to the development of a paticular type of cathode ray tube manufactured by the glass-blower L. Muller-Unkel and the decisive part this tube played in the discovery of the new radiation. This interpretation has been emphasized during the Third Reich and even nowaday it became not completely obliterate. Relying on recently discovered historical documents we describe the history of the origin of the Muller-Unkel tube. In this way we can demonstrate that essential parts of the interpretation of Ph. Lenard and his politically like-minded friends are to be transposed into the grounds of legends.