An outline biography of Robert Koch, the founder of bacteriology in Germany. This study evaluates Koch's opus postumum, which has been forgotten, and presents a new view of the personality and working methods of this Nobel laureate. In addition, it contains a complete catalogue of the documentation relevant to Koch's curriculum vitae and the relevant notes, working materials and letters. Because of the criteria for accessing the documents and the locations of the documents, the book is indispensible for librarians and archivists.