Born 1944 in Pellworm. Study of chemistry, doctorate (1973) and German Habilitation (1978) Giessen Univ., Full Professor and Institute Director Hanover Univ. (1981-1987) and Bonn Univ. (1987-1997), emeritus Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. Honorary Professor at the Univ. of Stuttgart (since 1998).