Jakow Trachtenberg

Jakow Trachtenberg (17 June 1888 - 1953) was a Russian mathematician who developed the mental calculation techniques called the Trachtenberg system. He was born in Odessa, Russian Empire (today Ukraine). He graduated with highest honors from the Mining Engineering Institute in St. Petersburg and later worked as an engineer in the Obuschoff shipyards. While still in his early twenties, he became Chief Engineer with 11,000 men under his supervision.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Trachtenberg escaped to Germany where he became very critical of Hitler. As a result, he was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He developed his system of mental arithmetic during his imprisonment. Through the help of his wife who pawned her jewelry to bribe the guards, Trachtenberg managed to escape from the concentration camp and went to Switzerland, where he developed his system further. In 1950, Trachtenberg founded the Mathematical Institute in Zürich where he taught about his system.

Early life

Trachtenberg was a dedicated pacifist. When the war broke out in 1914 he was instrumental in organising a society known as the Society of Good Samaritans. The idea was to train Russian students to take care of the wounded. This also had a special recognition from the Czar. He was against any violence of any sort and brutality to any nature. He refused to accept defeat even under trying conditions.

He worked as an engineer in the Obuschoff shipyards after graduation. He was promoted as Chief Engineer with thousands of men under his supervision. The rulers gave him the responsibility of forming a well-developed navy under his supervision.

Life in Germany and World War II

His expectation of a peaceful life ended with the Russian Revolution of 1917. In 1918 the Imperial family was liquidated and new rulers took over. He was very critical of the new government, and soon learned that the rulers wanted to murder him.

Disguising himself he escaped to Berlin which became his new home. He worked as an editor for a magazine publishing company always recommending for a peaceful future. He became an expert on Russian affairs and wrote also a book on Russian industry. When fascism came in and Hitler was ruling the country Tractenberg was very critical of him recommending peaceful existence. Knowing that Hitler has marked him for removal he escaped to Vienna in Austria with his wife. There he worked for a scientific magazine.

After the Anschluss, Tractenberg was captured and sent to prison. From there he escaped and fled to Yugoslavia with his wife where he lived incognito. This was only short-lived as the Nazis caught him and transported him to a concentration camp.

He diverted his attention to think on manipulation of numbers to forget the ruthlessness he witnessed in the concentration camp. Without any paper or pencil he worked mentally and only scribbled the final results on any bit of paper he could lay hands on.

In 1944, after almost seven years in prison, when he learned that he was to be executed, his wife bribed the guards and got him transferred to another prison from where he escaped incognito and ran for his life with his wife. Again he was caught and sent to another prison from where he escaped to Switzerland with the help of his wife who pawned her jewelry to bribe the guards.

Life after the war

In Switzerland he started teaching his mental manipulation of numbers, which became very popular. He was especially successful with children who had had problems with ordinary mathematical education. Finally in 1950 he founded the Mathematical Institute in Zürich which became known worldwide for its methodology of teaching.

References

• Jakow Trachtenberg, adapted by Ann Cutler and Rudolph McShane (1965). The Speed System of Basic Mathematics. London: Pan Books Ltd.