I agree with the previous points, but I would also add historical events that led to this. Pre-WW I Germany was much more important and plays the role that France is playing today (maybe even more central), see University of Göttingen at the time.
After two world wars the German mathematics community was in shambles, with many mathematicians fleeing during that period (Grothendieck, Artin, Gödel,...). The university of Bonn (and the MPI) were the post-war project of Hirzebruch to rebuild the math community in Germany.
I assume France then was then able to rise as the hotspot and I would be curious to imagine what would have happened in an alternative timeline.
I agree with the previous points, but I would also add historical events that led to this.
Pre-WW I Germany was much more important and plays the role that France is playing today (maybe even more central), see University of Göttingen at the time.
After two world wars the German mathematics community was in shambles, with many mathematicians fleeing during that period (Grothendieck, Artin, Gödel,...). The university of Bonn (and the MPI) were the post-war project of Hirzebruch to rebuild the math community in Germany.
I assume France then was then able to rise as the hotspot and I would be curious to imagine what would have happened in an alternative timeline.