[Friedrich Theodor Althoff (1859-1908) and the German universities around 1900].
Usually the diplomat Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) is regarded as the creator of German supremacy in academic, especially medical education. Actually this role was played by the "bureaucrat" Friedrich Althoff (1839-1909), who directed German education from 1882 to 1907. His greatest accomplishment was the selection of the best professors.