Physics and National Socialism

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ci

   PDF

2. Controversies Prior to 1933

   1. Albert Einstein: My Reply. On the Anti-Relativity Theoretical Co., Ltd. [August 27, 1920]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 1-5

   2. Max von Laue: Review of Johannes Stark’s ‘The Current Crisis in German Physics’ [January 12, 1923]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 6-7

   3. Philipp Lenard & Johannes Stark: The Hitler Spirit and Science [May 8, 1924]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 7-10

   4. Albert von Brunn: Review of ‘100 Authors against Einstein’ [March 13, 1931]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 10-16

3. After the Nazzi Seizure of Power

   1. Lise Meitner: Letter to Otto Hahn [March 21, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 17-18

   2. Albert Einstein: Letters to the Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Academy’s Response [March 28-April 5, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 18-21

   3. Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service [April 7, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 21-24

   4. First Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service [April 11, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 25-26

   5. Voluntary Resignation of Prof. James Franck [April 17, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 26-31

   6. Edith Hahn: Letter to James and Ingrid Franck [April 22, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 31-32

   7. Göttingen University Lecturers: Professor Franck’s Resignation [April 24, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 32-34

   8. Law against the Overcrowding of German Schools and Universities [April 25, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 34-36

   9. Wolfgang Köhler: Conversations in Germany [April 28, 1933]

      • Klaus Hentschel

      Pages 36-40

   10. The Spirit at Universities [April 28, 1933]

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 40-43

   11. Fritz Haber: Letter of Resignation to the Prussian Minister of Sciences, Arts and Culture Rust [April 30, 1933]

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 44-45

   12. James Franck: Letter to Walther Gerlach [May 3, 1933]

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 45-46

   13. Third Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service [May 6, 1933]

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 46-49

   14. Philipp Lenard: A Big Day for Science. Johannes Stark Appointed President of the Reich Physical and Technical Institute [May 13, 1933]

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 49-52

   15. Max von Laue: The Change in the Reich Physical and Technical Institute Presidency in the Spring of 1933

       • Klaus Hentschel

       Pages 53-54

1 Aim and General Description of the Anthology The purpose of this anthology is to introduce the English speaking public to the wide spectrum of texts authored predominently by physicists portraying the ac­ tual and perceived role of physics in the Nazi state. Up to now no broad and well­ balanced documentation of German physics during this time has been available in English, despite the significant role physics has played both politically (e. g. , in weaponry planning) and ideologically (e. g. , in the controversy over the value of theoretical ('Jewish') vs. experimental ('Aryan') physics), and even though prominent figures like the scientist-philosopher and emigre Albert Einstein and the controversial nuclear physicist Werner Heisenberg have become household names. This anthology will attempt to bridge this gap by presenting contempo­ rary documents and eye-witness accounts by the physicists themselves. Authors were chosen to represent the various political opinions and specialties within the physics community, omitting some of the more readily accessible texts by leading physicists (e. g. , Einstein, Heisenberg, Lenard) in favor of those by less well-known but nonetheless important figures (e. g. , Finkelnburg, Max Wien, Ramsauer). In this way we hope not only to circumvent the constricted 'Great Men' approach to history but also to offer a broader picture of the activities and conflicts within the field and the effects of the political forces exerted upon them.

• Albert Einstein
• chemistry
• Distribution
• education
• evaluation
• History of physics
• James Franck
• modern physics
• Nation
• National Socialism
• Niels Bohr
• physical chemistry
• physics
• socialism
• Werner Heisenberg

• Institute for History of Science, GÖttingen University, Göttingen, Germany

  Klaus Hentschel

Policies and ethics