Erich Krenkel, German geologist, studied law at the
University of Leipzig, which awarded him the degree Doctor of Law (D jur) in
1905. He continued his studies in geology and palaeontology at the University
of Muenchen, which conferred on him the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Dr phil)
in 1909 for his thesis Die untere Kreide
von Deutsch-Ostafrika (The lower Cretaceous of German East Africa, now Tanzania,
Rwanda and Burundi). He qualified as a university lecturer in geology and
palaeontology at the University of Leipzig in 1912 and from that year was a
private tutor there in both these subjects. From 1914 to 1917, during World War
I (1914-1918), he was on military service in East Africa. The next year he was appointed as
professor extraordinarius at the University of Leipzig, initially in geology
and palaeontology, but from 1926 until his retirement in 1945 in applied
geology.
Krenkel's contributions to science dealt mainly with the
geology and fossils of Africa. His research culminated in a monumental work
titled Geologie Afrikas (3 vols,
1925-1938). His many papers, written in German and published in Europe, also
dealt mainly with Africa, particularly East Africa, but included several on
southern Africa. For example: "Die Aptfossilien der Delagoa Bai" (1910), "Die
geologischen Grundlagen des Bergbaues der S.A. Union" (1927), "Die Kohlenfelder
Transvaals" (1927), "Die Eisenerze Suedafrikas" (1929), "Die Stukturelemente
Suedafrikas" (1930), "Die Kalahari Region Suedafrikas" (1931), and "Geologische
Geschichte Suedafrikas" (1932). His book, Geologie der deutschen Kolonien in
Afrika (1939) included an excellent
overview of the geology of South West Africa (now Namibia).
