MÄNCHEN-HELFEN, Otto Johann/John. Vienna 26.6.1894 — Berkeley 29.1.1969. Austrian Sinologist and Central Asian Scholar in the U.S.A. Professor in Berkeley. Son of Johann Helfen (1859–1938), a book printer, and Agnes Katharina Mänchen (1867–1944). After school in Vienna began studies at Vienna, but soon had to serve in WW I, then continued studies of Sinology, ethnology, art history and archaeology at Vienna, Gothenburg and Leipzig. Ph.D. 1923 Leipzig in Sinology (under Conrady). In 1927-30 worked at Marx-Engels Institute in Moscow heading its Sociological-Ethnological Division, in 1929 travelled in Tannu Tuva. Leaving Russia lost all his papers to GPU. In 1930-33 PD at Berlin. Returned to Austria because of Nazism and after Anschluss emigrated to the U.S.A. From 1939 Professor of Oriental Studies at Mills College in Oakland, Calif. From 1947 Professor at University of California, Berkeley, emeritus 1962. Also hon. dr. there. Married 1927 Anna Aronson (1902–1991), a psychoanalyst.
Publications: Reise ins asiatische Tuwa. B. 1931, English translation by A. Leighton, Journey to Tuva. L.A. 1992.
– “Huns and Hsiung-Nu”, Byzantion 17, 1945-46, 222-243, “The Legend of the Origin of the Huns”, Ibid. 244-251.
– “The Yueh-chih Problem Re-examined”, JAOS 65, 1945, 71-81; other articles.
– The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture. Ed. by M. Knight. 28+602 p. Berkeley 1973, German translation by V. Straub, ed. by R. Göbl, Die Welt der Hunnen. Eine Analyse ihrer historischen Dimension. Vienna 1978.
– Critical writings on Soviet Union and Marxism.
Sources: H. Franke, N.D.B. 15, 1987, 636; *bibliography by Ch. King, CAJ 40, 1996, 178-187; Wikipedia with photo (more in German version).
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