His appointment came after Weyl, who had been on the Commission as Chairman of the German Mathematical Society, had taken up a post in the United States. However after Hitler came to power on 30 January 1933 the Nazi policies began to have a major impact on the German Mathematical Society and its members.
Kanyang appointment dumating matapos Weyl, na na-sa Commission bilang Chairman ng Lipunan German matematiko, had taken up ng isang post sa Pilipinas. Subalit matapos Hitler ang dumating sa kapangyarihan sa 30 Enero 1933 sa Nasi patakaran ay nagsimulang magkaroon ng malaking epekto sa German matematiko Lipunan at mga kasapi nito.