Hermann Lorenz Künneth (July 6, 1892 Neustadt an der Haardt – May 7, 1975 Erlangen)[1] was a German mathematician and renowned algebraic topologist, best known for his contribution to what is now known as the Künneth theorem.
In the winter semester 1910/11, Künneth joined the students' fraternity “Studentengesangverein Erlangen“, now “Akademisch-Musikalische Verbindung Fridericiana Erlangen“ (“Students' Choral Society Erlangen“, now “Akademic Musical Fraternity Fridericiana Erlangen“). He carried out a variety of posts during his studies as well as after having left university in 1914.
He participated in the First World War and was captured by British forces.[1]
His 1922 doctoral thesis at the University of Erlangen was titled Über die Bettischen Zahlen einer Produktmannigfaltigkeit (“On the Betti numbers of a product manifold”), it was supervised by Heinrich Franz Friedrich Tietze.[1]
From 1923, he was a teacher at secondary schools in Kronach and Erlangen. After retiring, he became professor at the University of Erlangen.
In 1964, he was decorated with the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the highest German decoration.