Witte, Alfred
Alfred Witte (born on 02.03.1878 at 21.12 in Hamburg, died on 04.08.1941 in Hamburg) is often credited with founding the Hamburg School of astrology. In reality, it would be more accurate to describe him as its intellectual father because the school was actually officially established seven years after his death. However, it would be fair to say that its existence would have been unthinkable without his influence.
Witte was a topographer in the city of Hamburg. His profession demanded a high degree of mathematical competence which he made use of when studying astrology. Building on the basis of [[classical astrology]], Witte introduced new technical ideas into horoscope interpretation and prediction. He worked with midpoints and developed a rotatable 360 degree disc. He was also deeply spiritual, which also influenced his astrological work. For example, the Hamburg School works with hypothetical planets, the so-called [[Trans- Neptunians]] which Witte had intuitively "observed". He also researched the relationship between numbers, colours and sounds, and he documented his theories in numerous essays.
The National Socialist's prohibition of astrology had a deep impact on him. Fearing arrest he took his own life at the age of 63.
