Vida y obra del hispanista alemán Wilhelm Kolbe

This article presents all the information gathered from libraries and archives on the life and work of the German Hispanist Wilhelm Kolbe (1900-?). Despite being a virtually unknown figure, his doctoral thesis, Studie über den Einfluß der “corridas de toros” auf die spanische Umgangssprache (1929), had a notable influence on the field of bullfighting phraseology and, in particular, on José María Cossío, author of the most prestigious specialised encyclopaedia and an inescapable reference in bullfighting studies. Thanks to Cossío’s recognition, Kolbe’s work has crossed the borders of Germany and reached other Spanish specialists dedicated to the study of the influence of the bullfighting world in the Spanish language.