[Fritz König (1866-1952), pioneer of modern neurosurgery in Germany]

Till the thirties of our century surgery of the brain tumors in Germany was depressing. It's entirely the credit of Fritz König (Würzburg) having caused decisive change of the situation. He enabled his assistant Wilhelm Tönnis to be trained by Herbert Olivecrona in his Department of Neurosurgery in Stockholm. After his return from Sweden the first independent Department of Neurosurgery was founded for Wilhelm Tönnis at the Hospital of Fritz König in Würzburg, against the still existing opposition of the surgeons.