Background
Korn, Walter was born on May 22, 1908 in Prague, Czech Republic. Arrived in United States, 1950, naturalized, 1956. Son of Bernard and Clara (Deutsch) Korn.
Korn, Walter was born on May 22, 1908 in Prague, Czech Republic. Arrived in United States, 1950, naturalized, 1956. Son of Bernard and Clara (Deutsch) Korn.
Dr.Comm., Charles University, Prague, 1938. Postgraduate, London School Economics, 1949—1950.
Despite his status as a writer, there is no known record of him playing tournament chess, and few chess players ever met him. One of his few known games is a draw against a 13-year-old Gordon Crown, published in the April 1943 issue of Chess. Korn was a FIDE International Judge for chess compositions and contributed the entire topic of chess for the Encyclopædia Britannica (1972).
Korn was the author of Modern Chess Openings (MCO), which was considered an authoritative work on the openings of chess.
A new edition of MCO would come out every five years or so, and it was essential reading for tournament chess players. In later years, Korn enlisted the help of top players, such as Grandmaster Larry Evans and Grandmaster Nick de Firmian, while continuing as a co-author
Korn fled his homeland for London in 1939. Several years later, in Germany, he directed the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, helping to relocate concentration camp survivors.
In 1948, he served as national director of World Organization for Rehabilitation through Training in Geneva.
He immigrated to the United States in 1950, and lived in Detroit, where he worked as business manager of the Jewish Community Center. From 1960 to 1964, he lived in Israel, working for both the Joint Distribution Committee and the United Jewish Appeal.
(384pages. in8. broché.)
Member Volunteers for International Technology Assistance, 1968—1971. National field representative United Jewish Appeal, from 1968. Member of Academy Polit and Social Science, Academy Political Science, World Affairs Council, American Judicature Society, Amnesty International, Press Club (San Francisco), Princeton Club (New York ), Commonwealth Club (California), Masons.
Married Herta Klemperer, December 24, 1933.