Named in honor of Heinrich Böll (1917–1985), outstanding German writer. In his work he described the reality of World War II and the postwar era, mostly through the fate of ordinary people. A democrat with great historical farsightedness, he defended the liberty of the mind whenwever it was endangered. In 1971–1974, he was president of the International PEN Club. His receipt of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1972 was the visible sign of his appreciation worldwide. (M 31612) _ _.