Max Herrmann (theatrologist)

When, in 1923, the Institute of Theatre Studies at Berlin University, world-wide the first of its kind, was founded despite much resistance from the more established disciplines, Herrmann was appointed its head, a function he fulfilled alternately with Julius Petersen.

When the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service was passed in April 1933, Max Herrmann was deprived of his professorship by being forced to go into retirement.

On 8 September 1942 he and his wife were deported to the concentration camp Theresienstadt where Max Herrmann died in November 1942.

Until his deportation Herrmann worked on "The Development of the Professional Art of Theatre in Antiquity and Modern Times" (Die Entstehung der berufsmässigen Schauspielkunst im Altertum und in der Neuzeit) irrespective of institutionlised harassment which meant, for example, that he was only allowed to read books while standing.

Berlin State Library awards every year on 10 May, the anniversary of the Nazi book burnings, the Max-Herrmann-Prize.