Josef Johann Breuer (* 7 January 1903 in Cologne; † 2 August 1981 in Wildbergerhütte) was a German chess composer.

Chess composition
Breuer learnt to play chess at the age of 13. He became a member (and later chairman) of the Cologne Chess Club 1861 and initially started with party chess. From 1923, he shifted his focus to chess composition. He devoted himself to the so-called Neudeutsche (better: Logische) Schule, as well as miniatures. More than 50 of his chess tasks were included in the FIDE albums. He was honoured with the title of International Judge of Chess Composition and FIDE International Master of Chess Composition.

Tournament chess
Breuer also achieved a reasonable level in tournament chess and had regional successes. In 1923 he became West German university champion, and in 1933 he won the Cologne city championship.

Works
Schwalbenspätauslese, 1961
A modern cross-section through the year 1955, 1962
Beispiele zur Ideengeschichte des Schachproblems, published by Die Schwalbe, 1982, ISBN 3-922392-08-1.
Private
Breuer was a teacher by profession. He lost his home in Cologne during the Second World War, so he moved to Wildbergerhütte. He taught here from 1946 to 1968.

Weblinks
Compositions by Josef Breuer on the PDB server