<<

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift

A personal reflection

DR Ralph Kohn FRS

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 1 21/5/09 07:12:58 Contents

Foreword 1 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: 2 a personal reflection Introduction 2 Personal experience 3 Beginnings of persecution 4 Birth of the Academic Assistance Council 6 cultural life 1933 10 The AAC positions itself cautiously 12 Funding 15 Heidelberg anniversary celebrations 15 The AAC at work 16 Kindertransport 20 Conclusion 20 Afterword 23 Acknowledgements 24 Dr Ralph Kohn 25

List of illustrations

Cover: Sigmund Freud (3rd right) with AV Hill (fourth right) in Freud’s garden on the occasion of his signing the Royal Society Charter Book, 23 June 1938. 1 AV Hill 3 2 , painted by Max Liebermann 3 3 6 4 6 5 7 6 Eric Ashby 8 7 PMS Blackett, painted by William Evans 8 8 at the piano accompanying Ralph Kohn 10 9 Public burning of “un-German” books on the Opernplatz, Berlin, 10 May 1933 11 10 Frederick Gowland Hopkins, painted by Meredith Frampton 14 11 Esther Simpson 17 12 17 13 18 14 18 15 21

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I April 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 2 21/5/09 07:12:58 Dr Ralph Kohn FMedSci FRAM FRS

Dr Ralph Kohn is a pharmacologist, entrepreneur and musician.

He was educated at University, where he was awarded a BSc, MSc and PhD and received the Wild Prize in Pharmacology. He won postdoctoral fellowships to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome, where he worked and published with two Nobel Laureates, and to the Albert Einstein College of in New York. He subsequently joined the in the Research and Development Division of the U S company Smith Kline & French. After 7 years with the company, he was appointed MD of a Swiss biological company.

In 1969 Dr Kohn founded his own company, the first specifically Medical Services company in the UK, specializing in the clinical evaluation of new therapeutic substances. The company received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement for services to the pharmaceutical industry in 1990.

In 1991 Dr Kohn set up the Kohn Foundation, which has supported many scientific, medical and artistic projects.

Dr Kohn is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He is an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society and the Royal College of , and a member of Academia Europaea. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2006, and he currently serves on its 350th Anniversary Campaign Board. The Kohn Foundation has supported several important initiatives at the Society, including its Science in Society Programme, the Royal Society Kohn Award for Excellence in Engaging the Public with Science, and the Climate Change Unit of the Royal Society Science Policy Centre.

Ralph Kohn is also a practising musician of professional standard. Having begun his musical studies in Amsterdam with the violin, he subsequently became interested in vocal music and studied and trained in Rome, New York and . He has given numerous recitals and performances with orchestras in the UK and abroad, and has recorded the major cycles in the Lieder repertoire. He has so far recorded 16 CDs. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 25

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 25 21/5/09 07:13:13 Foreword

Lord Rees of Ludlow, President of the Royal Society

I warmly welcome the publication of persecution in their home country. However, Ralph Kohn’s lecture on the persecution of the practical welcome – from the likes of scientists in Nazi during the 1930s Lords Beveridge and Rutherford badgering and the efforts made by many in the UK their fellow Peers to junior staff donating a to assist them. It was originally delivered at percentage of their income – was sufficient the Royal Society on 3 December 2008, on to support hundreds of scholars and the eve of a conference at our neighbour their families who were to make a quite the British Academy celebrating the 75th outstanding contribution to science and anniversary of what is now known as the learning in Britain. Council for Assisting Refugee Academics. Ralph’s excellent lecture, enriched by his The impact of the refugee scholars on personal knowledge of many of the key Britain has been well documented. What figures, deserved to find a wider audience. I Ralph has done in this lecture is to focus on am delighted that this publication will allow the pre-condition for that impact, which it to do so. he describes as ‘the unique humane and dedicated work of some extraordinary The story of scientists in British subjects’, whose determination, reminds us first of all of the great wealth generosity and practical vision underpinned of talent that Germany had nurtured up the rescue mission. It was an occasion when to that time. Second, it speaks to the good people chose not to remain silent. international character not only of science but also of learning more generally. The CARA remains active because, of course, fact that scholars in other countries went the persecution of scholars living under out of their way to accommodate refugees, dictatorships remains a live issue. Ralph and the fact that the refugees, with greater reminds us of AV Hill’s comment that or lesser difficulty, were able to fit into ‘tolerance and intellectual freedom … unfamiliar cultures, is testimony to the demand continual watchfulness and effort’. universality of science and learning. There CARA provides a means for scholars in are positives in the midst of a dark period in free countries to undertake that continual human history. watchfulness and effort, and it deserves our continuing warm support. It was not straightforward. Ralph reminds us that neither the scientific community nor the political class in Britain were unanimous in their welcome for scholars fleeing

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 1

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 1 14/5/09 12:43:55 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection

Keynote lecture delivered at CARA’s 75th anniversary conference

Introduction part Jewish, shortly after the Nazis assumed power in Germany in January of that year. May I first of all express to CARA – the The AAC was the forerunner of CARA, as it Council for Assisting Refugee Academics is now known. – my sincerest thanks for honouring me with an invitation to present the opening It is, of course, a tragedy that such a lecture of the two-day Conference entitled Council had to be created in the first place “In Defence of Learning – the Past and the to deal with the sad plight of so many Present” to be held at the British Academy. individuals, who were affected by the inhuman and brutal of the newly My contribution is intended to review the established Nazi regime. early days of the Council, following the establishment of a Nazi government in It is fitting that tonight’s lecture should Germany. It will highlight the period from be given at the Royal Society as, from the 1933 to 1939 and the events set in very beginning, many prominent Fellows by the expulsion from Nazi Germany of of this Society played a leading role in the scientists and other academics. establishment and activities of the Academic Assistance Council and did so much to When I was first asked to deliver an address enable refugee scientists from Germany to as important as this, it seemed to me that be accepted in universities and other learned my qualifications were rather limited. After institutions upon arrival in this country. all, I was not a refugee academic, nor am I a historian with expert knowledge of that The title of my presentation “Nazi period. However, on further reflection, persecution – Britain’s Gift” deliberately I realised that to qualify as a refugee echoes a book which appeared some 9 academic I would have to be at least 100 years ago by Jean Medawar and David years old! And the unstinting support and Pyke entitled “Hitler’s Gift – Scientists who encouragement I have received from CARA Fled Nazi Germany”. The emphasis in the and its excellent Project Manager, Laura Medawar/Pyke publication was directed Wintour, also encouraged me to accept this towards the outstanding contributions challenge. made by refugee academics and others to further Science, Medicine, the Arts This year marks the 75th Anniversary and other topics in Britain. On the other of the establishment of the Academic hand, I should like to concentrate on the Assistance Council (the AAC) in 1933 in unique humane and dedicated work of Britain, as a direct result of the dismissal some extraordinary British subjects, who and persecution of academics, for the most found a haven of sanity for so many of

2 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 2 14/5/09 12:43:55 1 AV Hill 2 Albert Einstein, painted by Max Liebermann

these refugee academics, placed them in one of his books covering that period. We universities and academic institutions, and arrived in Liverpool a week later as penniless provided them with facilities and financial refugees. I was then 12 years old. Our support wherever and whenever required. good fortune was that we left “en famille”, parents and all siblings. This was a huge Personal experience blessing. I was born in , and at the age of I enjoyed a fairly normal schooling during 5, not long after Hitler came to power, World War II and university studies at we left for Amsterdam. My parents were Manchester University, but it meant having amongst those – a minority I should add – to learn two new languages on my way who did not believe Hitler to be a passing to . As a result of my university phenomenon, as sadly many others did in studies in the biological sciences and the early 1930s. Those, who had not left subsequent work, I had the good fortune Germany by the late 1930s, practically all to meet many refugee academics, including perished in the Holocaust. By the time the some who had made outstanding careers infamous Kristallnacht events occurred in in this country. I cannot claim to have November 1938, the writing was clearly been involved in world-shattering drug on the wall for everyone to read, even for discoveries as a pharmacologist myself, but those who until then chose to believe they I can state without fear of contradiction were merely living a nightmarish dream! that “I have stood on the shoulders of The Nazis brutally invaded the Netherlands many refugee academic giants, in both in May 1940, and we were lucky to escape the sciences and arts” – to paraphrase yet again, on the very last boat leaving the famous expression of which Sir Isaac Holland on 14 May. This escape was Newton availed himself when addressing described by the distinguished historian and Robert Hooke, both distinguished Fellows Churchill biographer, Sir Martin Gilbert, in of the Royal Society.

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 3

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 3 14/5/09 12:43:58 Beginnings of persecution time was that knowledge and learning were threatened by petty-minded and vindictive It is difficult to imagine how , who had edicts of a racial nature, and that much lived for many generations in Germany and important scientific work was in danger of had contributed vastly to every aspect of being lost because dedicated people with German cultural life, felt when from one day fine minds were being denied the chance to the next they were declared undesirable to work. That they were generously given citizens and dismissed from their academic that chance in this country should always positions on account of their race. be remembered as a glorious moment for This was a very special turning point in decency and humanity. As we know only history. With hindsight we can now see that too well, those who had not left Germany 1933 was the beginning of the inevitable before the outbreak of War in 1939 did in onslaught that would lead to World War II fact perish. and systematic genocide. And yet, at this One experience that should have alerted time, six years before the war, most people AV Hill to the real nature of the Nazi regime would have dismissed any suggestion that was an exchange with Professor Johannes lives were actually in danger. Not even a Stark. Stark was a well-known man of the greatest scientific imagination, and Nobel Laureate. He was also a strong such as the Nobel Laureate Professor supporter of the Nazi Party, and in fact AV Hill1, who played a major role in the was regarded the scientific “Gauleiter” of establishment of the AAC, could as yet the regime. Soon after the establishment foresee the full evil of the Nazis. I quote of the Nazi regime, he took AV to task from a letter Hill wrote to Lord Beveridge in in correspondence published in Nature 1934: for denouncing the Nazis for persecuting It is not that these academics will perish Jewish and “dissident” scientists. His as human beings, but that as scholars contention was that there was “no factual and scientists, they will be heard of no basis for Hill’s remarks”, but the Nazi more, since they will have to take up government had been “obliged to protect something else in order to live. itself against disloyal persons”. He even went so far as to write to Lord Rutherford As yet there is no fear on AV Hill’s part for asking him to stop Hill making “dangerous the life of the dismissed Jewish scientists. statements”. The only thing that seemed clear at the

1 AV Hill was one of the founders of biophysics together with Hermann Helmholz. However, in the eyes of the distinguished physiologist Starling at University College London, AV was a mathematician and physicist and “did not know a word of ”! When Hill, who had been appointed to a professorship at UCL, arrived there from Manchester after his had been announced, he was carried by the students shoulder high to his new department and on the way they stopped outside Starling’s room shouting “we want Starling – we want Starling”. Starling appeared – somewhat startled at the noise – and the students shouted “who said he didn’t know any physiology?” Starling replied “I said he didn’t. He doesn’t know a damn word!” They all had a marvellously good-humoured time laughing and joking and this boisterous scene was actually photographed. Try to imagine this sort of scene in Nazi Germany!

4 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 4 14/5/09 12:43:58 Stark was under the impression that in Science, Art and National Education: “I Britain Rutherford had the same dictatorial will abstain from winning a position that authority that he himself enjoyed under the corresponds to my inclinations and abilities, Nazi system. And, furthermore, he should rather than make a decision contrary to have known that Rutherford was the first my conviction or remaining inauspiciously President of the AAC in 1933! Although silent. I feel the exclusion of Jewish this correspondence dealt with serious scientists to be an injustice, the necessity matters, AV dismissed it with some humour, of which I cannot understand, since it has remarking “laughter is the best detergent been justified by reasons that lie outside the for nonsense”! But Hill perhaps did not domain of Science.” He was immediately realise that humour was no laughing matter forbidden from entering any Government for the likes of Stark. academic institution, using state libraries or scientific facilities. He left for the U.S. The year that marks the 75th anniversary of where he became a distinguished head the AAC is also the 75th anniversary of the of Pharmacology at Harvard. I did see him so-called thousand-year Reich, when Adolf at meetings whilst doing my postdoctoral Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. studies in New York, but am deeply On 30 January 1933 the election results saddened that I never knew him personally. were announced and a Nazi government was established. Within weeks new laws One of the most famous of all German were promulgated concerning what was scientists, Professor , founder called the ‘Cleansing of the Civil Service.’ of the quantum theory, was non-Jewish. German Universities were structured in He attempted to reason with Hitler, such a way that they were part of that that German learning and science were civil service, and the new government had endangered by the dismissal of talented the right – unimaginable as far as British men and women on racial and political universities was concerned – to dismiss staff grounds. at will, to make direct appointments, and to limit university entrance to those who Hitler’s infamous reply is worth quoting supported the party. verbatim:

The story of Professor Otto Krayer provides Our national policies will not be revoked an illustration of the prevailing mood. or modified, even for scientists. If the Krayer was a distinguished pharmacologist, dismissal of Jewish scientists means the a subject somewhat dear to me! He annihilation of contemporary German was one of the very few young German science, we shall do without science for a scientists who stood up against the injustice few years. of the Nazi regime and said so loud and Planck, who continued to teach the clear. He was Aryan, and not even the Nazis forbidden theories of Einstein, was could claim him to be otherwise (not even accordingly branded what was termed a a “white Jew”). The prestigious Chair of “white Jew” and tragically his son was Pharmacology at Dusseldorf University was hanged by the Nazis after his indictment for vacant as the Jewish incumbent Professor being part of the Stauffenberg Plot against Philipp Ellinger was dismissed in 1933, and Hitler in 1944. As for Einstein himself, the Chair was offered to Krayer. Krayer he was the bogey man of Nazi ideology. wrote back to the Prussian Minister for

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 5

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 5 14/5/09 12:43:58 3 Leo Szilard 4 William Beveridge

The fanatical, notorious Nazi ideologist, the LSE, Professor Lionel Robbins, and the Professor , himself a Nobel Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises. This laureate, wrote a textbook on so-called distinguished pair of British academics read “Aryan ” and denounced Einstein’s in a newspaper, whilst sitting in a café, theory of relativity as “down and out”. As about the suspension of twelve important for any Jew, he proclaimed, “his complete Jewish scientists from German universities. unfitness for scientific research is obvious, Beveridge realised that all this knowledge although this is concealed by arithmetical and experience had to be saved, and that juggling”. the dignity of the German academics must be upheld for the benefit of the entire Einstein had left Germany for America learned world. in December 1932. With such a famous figure denounced by this kind of officially Oscar Wilde once observed: “It is approved individual, what hope was there personalities not principles, which move the for other Jewish scientists? Very soon after age” – and how much more true is that, the summary dismissal of the first wave of when large personalities like Beveridge and academics the sheer injustice of their plight Robbins and many others had in addition became the talk of the academic world. principles. They cut short their visit to and returned to London, but not Birth of the Academic before meeting a brilliant scientist who Assistance Council happened to be in Vienna at the time. Sir William Beveridge, then Director of We must remember that Austria was not the London School of Economics and yet under Nazi control – the Anchluss Political Science, and later architect of took place only in 1938 – and it sheltered Britain’s Welfare State, was in Vienna at refugees from Germany in its own right, the time of the first dismissals in March including a remarkable Hungarian, the 1933. With him was his colleague from nuclear physicist Dr. Leo Szilard.

6 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 6 14/5/09 12:43:58 5 Ernest Rutherford

Szilard somehow always turned up at to support this new endeavour. By 1938 he the right place and at the right time in had moved to America to deal with other the 1930s – a true man of destiny, it urgent matters. would appear. Many Hungarians had the reputation of being so extraordinarily It was Szilard who persuaded Einstein to talented and able (in whichever sphere write the famous letter to the American they worked) that the joke went round President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, “If you enter a revolving door in front of which led to the establishment of the a Hungarian you would inevitably emerge and creation of the behind him”. To reinforce this point, when Atomic bomb. Given these rather forceful a young Hungarian once introduced himself credentials it is little wonder that during his to Szilard as simply “I am a Hungarian” years in London Szilard was highly active (the rest being understood), he received the at the office of the Academic Assistance uncompromising reply: “It is not enough to Council – prodding, encouraging, and be a Hungarian – you also require talent”! pressurising those he worked with, probably also driving them to despair – but all in a Szilard tried to persuade Beveridge to good cause. There is no doubt that Szilard create a “University in Exile” for dismissed was a key player in this story, but he had Academics. Beveridge, however, felt that no real influence in Britain, and he rightly this was not a practical proposition and left it to Beveridge and his powerful British suggested instead that those academics colleagues to handle the Establishment. affected by the Nazi dismissals should be That proved to be the right way forward. placed in existing Universities in the free world. It was Beveridge who proposed Beveridge was a famous man in his field, the formation of an Academic Assistance but he went right to the very top when Council to achieve this important aim. As it came to finding someone to take on a result, Szilard moved to London in 1933 the Chairmanship of the Council that he

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 7

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 7 14/5/09 12:44:00 6 Eric Ashby 7 PMS Blackett, painted by William Evans

wished to bring into being. This was Lord shared the 1922 award with the German Rutherford, by birth a New Zealander. Otto Meyerhoff. He was professor of He had been awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology at Manchester University Chemistry in 1908, he was the immediate at the time and is regarded as one of past President of the Royal Society, and the founders of biophysics. When the was Britain’s most famous elder scientist. Academic Assistance Council was formed In political terms he was a Tory – but, as in 1933, he was professor of physiology time went on, he had increasing sympathy at University College, London. Hill (or with the warnings about Germany and ‘AV ‘as he was universally known) was its intentions that were coming ever more particularly active during the war years in forcefully from the Churchillian side of the the defence of fellow scientists persecuted Conservative party. by the Nazi regime. He wrote movingly of the ‘brotherhood of science and learning’. Ernest Rutherford was sixty-two at the One of his co-workers was Sir Bernard time and not in the best of health. His wife Katz, another refugee academic, who was and doctor advised against his taking on subsequently to receive the Nobel Prize. any new task, but he realised the crucial importance of this work and he did so In his politics, AV followed a 17th century nevertheless. As head of the Cavendish tradition allowing the ancient universities Laboratory in Cambridge he had already to elect members to Parliament, and he moved on to the role of inspiration to a became an “Independent Conservative” younger generation of scientists. representing Cambridge University, with the emphasis on “Independent”. In this Beveridge selected a much younger and capacity, he took on the case of interned more energetic man to be Vice-President refugees on the Isle of Man pleading for of the Council, Professor AV Hill. Archibald their early release. One of these became Hill was a Nobel Prize winner – he had the distinguished pharmacologist, Professor

8 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 8 14/5/09 12:44:01 Heinz Otto Schild FRS at University College If Blackett was a man of the Left, it was London. Schild concluded that the war Beveridge’s gift to be able to engage with situation could not be too serious after the Right wing as well – including that all (this was in 1940 when France had colourful personality, Professor Frederick collapsed and Britain was fighting for Lindemann, FRS, later Lord Cherwell survival) if Parliament made time available (or “The Prof” as some called him with for the likes of himself to be debated! I a certain amount of sarcasm). He had knew Schild personally. been head of the Clarendon Laboratory in since 1920. Unlike the vast – or PMS Blackett as he was majority of his fellow-scientists he was known – was a prominent member of the actively involved with politics and was scientific left and had a strong following anti-communist to a degree that made among the younger members of the scientists like Blackett regard him as a scientific community. He was elected Fellow wealthy capitalist reactionary. Churchill was of the Royal Society in 1933. Blackett a friend of Lindemann, to whom he turned stated that ‘Science in Germany was being for scientific advice. ‘The Prof’ was violently deliberately used for war preparations, and anti-Hitler, but he was also capable of anti- for anti-working class activities. Scientific Semitic remarks and his biographers remain fact is being distorted to accord with Nazi divided about his feelings towards Jews. teachings.’ In his earlier years Blackett had been strongly against the use of science for Being an independent and very wealthy military purposes, but from 1935 onwards man – inherited money I should add – but he worked with and AV Hill on also with some funding from the AAC, the Committee for Scientific Survey of Air Lindemann went around in Germany in his Defence that gave birth to radar. Rolls Royce clearing out whole departments of their best scientists, including such Patrick Blackett was awarded the Nobel luminaries as Kürti, Mendelssohn and Prize in Physics in 1948 for his investigation Franz Simon – later Sir Francis Simon. of cosmic rays. In 1965 he became As the historian David Zimmermann President of the Royal Society and in 1969 a points out, Lindemann, though no great Labour peer, dedicated, as ever, to left-wing scientific luminary himself, “viewed Hitler’s causes. I am also proud to say that Blackett foolishness as an opportunity to transform was my professor of physics at Manchester the Clarendon Laboratories in Oxford University, but in spite of this I must confess into a world centre for low temperature that I did not cover myself with great glory physics”. As far as we know, in doing this in this subject. Professor Eric Ashby, later he did not appear to compete with the Lord Ashby, who became President of the AAC’s activities. After Lindemann’s trip, the Society for the Protection of Science and AAC established a grant programme which Learning (as the AAC was subsequently generated extensive correspondence with known), was my professor of botany at the academics it was designed to help. Manchester, which was a subject at which Much of this is now housed in the Bodleian – I am pleased to say – I fared rather better. Library and can be studied. But I feel that without these links being part of my own story, I would have little right Despite his possibly ambivalent attitudes to address this distinguished audience on towards Jews, Lindemann was appalled by these important matters. Hitler’s dismissal of Jewish scientists, and in

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 9

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 9 14/5/09 12:44:01 8 Ernst Chain at the piano accompanying Ralph Kohn

the words of Zimmermann “he was a rare of books in Berlin on 10 May 1933 – an example of a person who, in the face of event just as ominous in its own way as the great injustice, could put bigotry to rest”. dismissal of the scientists. It was presided Lindemann had excellent contacts with over by Berlin’s Gauleiter, Joseph Goebbels. industry and he did not wait for the work Like a Pagan High Priest he intoned the of the newly established Council to get words ‘Ich übergebe den Flammen’ (I underway. He obtained a large grant from consign to the flames), and oversaw the ICI for displaced chemists and , of destruction of so-called degenerate books which some twenty Jewish scholars were title by title, in each case naming the the beneficiaries. author.

The date of the first official meeting of the During the Third Reich period some Academic Assistance Council was 23 May 18,000 works that did not conform to Nazi 1933. The speed with which the enterprise ideology were burned. This was the same had been arranged was largely thanks to city of Berlin which, until Hitler came on Beveridge’s energy and the help of the the scene, was considered one of the great Royal Society, who generously offered the cultural and scientific cities of the world, if newly-born Council valuable office space: not the most prominent. That the book- two rooms in the attic of Burlington House, burning took place in the Opernplatz – the Piccadilly, where the Royal Society was then Opera Square – of the capital city is a cruel based. irony for those of us who love music. Berlin cultural life 1933 Berlin had previously hosted the orchestral and opera conductors Otto Klemperer, Events in Germany, less than a fortnight Bruno Walter, Wilhelm Furtwängler, earlier, had confirmed that the Academic Erich Kleiber and Leo Blech. The same Assistance Council had been formed none high standard applied to the theatre too soon. I refer to the notorious burning

10 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 10 14/5/09 12:44:02 9 Public burning of “un- German” books on the Opernplatz, Berlin, 10 May 1933

headed by the renowned Director and Jewish writers and poets of the past, once Producer Max Reinhardt. In the visual arts, heroes of German culture who were now Max Liebermann, the leading German cast as retrospective villains. Impressionist and President of the Academy of Arts. Paul Klee lived and worked there Among these was Heinrich Heine, the although his art was soon to be denounced German-Jewish poet, whose lyrics were set as ‘Entartete’ – Degenerate – by civilisation’s to music by composers such as Schubert new Nazi masters, alongside hundreds of and Schumann. His poems were the other members of the artistic avant-garde. basis of hundreds of German songs, that Berthold Brecht and the composer Kurt precious world of Lieder, a very special Weill were particularly hated and had to love of mine that had always represented flee immediately. the most civilised face of German culture to the outside world. The Nazis were the Scientists who had been active in Berlin kind of people who liked to talk of German included Einstein himself as well as Max cultural values and the protection of Planck, Walter Nernst, Fritz Haber, Otto German art, at the same time as displaying Hahn, , Otto Warburg, and shocking ignorance and a catastrophic lack many others. Younger names like Hans of good taste. There was a school of Nazi Krebs and Ernst Chain would make their painting, Nazi sculpture, even Nazi music, names later and elsewhere. Berlin was but nothing they touched has proven to be home to a galaxy of stars. Most of those of any enduring artistic merit, coming as above-mentioned were forced to emigrate. it does from the sterile soil of totalitarian bigotry. My mention of Lieder in connection The books burnt included works by Thomas with Heine is rather autobiographical: for Mann, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Erich me the art of Lieder has remained one Maria Remarque, H. G Wells and many of the greatest pleasures of my life and I others. Among these were the works of have had the privilege of working with, in

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 11

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 11 14/5/09 12:44:02 my opinion, one of its greatest exponents Never has any generation experienced in the world – Graham Johnson. Graham such moral repression from such a was born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. In spiritual height as our generation has. terms of totalitarianism in the present-day world, and as an example of the collapse of The Nazis’ abysmal attitude towards learning, need I say more? cultural standards may be illustrated with an infamous saying attributed to Göring, At home I have many volumes of the but actually stolen by him from a play composers Schubert, Schumann and performed in Berlin in 1933: “When anyone Brahms, all edited by a famous scholar, Max speaks to me of culture (Kultur), I want Friedländer, who was probably the greatest to reach for my gun”. In Göring’s feverish Lieder scholar of his time and who was mind the word “culture” was invariably stripped by the Nazis of his academic titles associated with Jews! and honours in Berlin before dying a broken man in 1934. Friedländer was a world Göring also stole the cynical statement authority on Dichterliebe, the great lyric “Wer Jude ist entscheide ich” – I decide song cycle to Heine’s Jewish poems by the who is a Jew – from Karl Lueger, a Aryan composer Robert Schumann. Heine’s former Mayor of Vienna. This expression words, and indeed his name as a poet, had was very appropriate when Göring, as to disappear and the Nazis employed some is well-known, personally allowed Otto terrible modern poet to put new words to Warburg, the distinguished Nobel Prize the cycle. winning biochemist, to remain untouched throughout the War in his laboratories in It was Heinrich Heine who wrote the Berlin - Dahlem, although he was of Jewish prophetic words: “Dort wo man Bücher descent. The reason for this extraordinary verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende exemption from dismissal was Göring’s Menschen”! Wherever they burn books conviction that Otto Warburg was THE man they will also, in the end, burn human to solve the cancer problems – a disease beings. Beveridge and the other supporters which terrified him. of the Academic Assistance Council surely made the same instinctive connection as The AAC positions itself Heine, without perhaps articulating it in so cautiously many words. In 1933 of course the members of the AAC At least Heine, who died in 1856, was were careful not to say explicitly anything unable to suffer personally from the Nazi as inflammatory as Heine. Their aim was destruction of his books. For modern writers to build as broad a consensus as possible. it was a different story. In his book “The Beveridge and Hill had at first wished to World of Yesterday” the Austrian novelist criticise the German government in their Stefan Zweig, a later hate-figure for the public statements, but their more cautious Nazis when they took over Austria, sums it colleagues, including Rutherford, persuaded all up in a single devastating sentence: them that rhetoric and polemic should be avoided, anything that would have enabled I have witnessed the most terrible defeat the Council to be labelled by its enemies as of reason and the wildest triumph of a “Jewish pressure group”. brutality in the chronicle of the Ages.

12 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 12 14/5/09 12:44:02 Box A: Signatories to a letter to in support of the AAC, 24 May 1933

Lascelles Abercrombie George F. Hill Robert S. Rait S. Alexander W. S. Holdsworth Lord Rayleigh W. H. Beveridge F. Gowland Hopkins Charles Grant Robertson W. H. Bragg A. E. Housman Robert Robinson Lord Buckmaster J. C. Irvine Lord Rutherford Lord Cecil F. G. Kenyon Michael E. Sadler Lord Crawford and Balcarres J. M. Keynes C.S. Sherrington Winifred C. Cullis A. D. Lindsay Arthur Schuster H. A. L. Fisher Lord Lytton George Adam Smith Margery Fry J. W. Mackail G. Elliot Smith C. S. Gibson Allen Mawer J. C. Stamp M. Greenwood Gilbert Murray J. J. Thomson J. S. Haldane Lord Eustace Percy G. M. Trevelyan A. V. Hill W. J. Pope

When Einstein came to London to address a The Royal Society felt that for political large crowd at the Albert Hall in 3 October reasons the AAC Executive Committee 1933 to raise funds for the Academic should not have any Jewish members Assistance Council, enormous care was in order for it to function smoothly. taken to avoid direct public criticism of The Academic Assistance Council the German Government. The reason was something typically British in its for that was the danger that the Council understatement, where work was might be placed on the list of proscribed undertaken with little fuss but in deadly organisations with which it would have earnest. It is perhaps for this reason been illegal for German citizens to that the truly extraordinary work that it correspond. This would have made their accomplished has been underestimated to rescue work all but impossible. As a result this day. of their caution, the AAC did avoid being proscribed, but the meeting at the Albert When collecting signatures for the initial Hall created an atmosphere of anxiety letter in The Times they had neither because of rumours of a plot to assassinate avoided Jews nor actively sought them out. Einstein. He left for the U.S. and the There was a lot of discussion about this organisation’s reputation was not damaged at the time. It was taken as understood in any way. The AAC members were careful that the majority of those scholars to be not to inflame the German authorities. In helped were German Jews, but there were its original appeal in May 1933 the AAC academics throughout Europe – in Fascist stated: “Their action implied no unfriendly Spain, Portugal and Italy, for example, who feelings to the people of any country”. The were losing their jobs for political, if not AAC’s non-political basis helped recruit racial, reasons. support from all quarters. Box A shows the list of 41 signatories to a letter sent to The Times and other leading

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 13

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 13 14/5/09 12:44:02 10 Frederick Gowland Hopkins, painted by Meredith Frampton

newspapers in support of the AAC in May • Sir Robert Robinson OM, organic 1933. Göring would presumably have chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in wished to gun them all down, and not only Chemistry in 1947 for his work on plant because they were all exceptionally cultured dyestuffs and alkaloids. President of the people. I have already mentioned Beveridge, Royal Society between 1945 and 1950. Rutherford and AV Hill. No fewer than There were several historians who were seven present or future holders of the Order signatories to the letter: Herbert Fisher of Merit put their name to this document. OM and GM Trevelyan OM – who was Amongst these were: to become one of the most famous • Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins OM, proponents of history recounted from the biochemist and winner of the Nobel point of view of ordinary people. Other Prize in Medicine in 1929 for his work on historians on the list were Sir Robert Rait, vitamins. President of the Royal Society Charles Grant Robertson and the legal between 1930 and 1935. historian WS Holdsworth. FG Kenyon was Director of the British Museum, a famous • Sir JJ Thompson OM, physicist and Egyptologist, and Secretary as well as winner of the in President of the British Academy. 1906 for the discovery of the . President of the Royal Society between Sir Samuel Alexander OM was an Australian 1915 and 1920. born British philosopher who had a • Sir William Bragg CH, physicist and long association with my University – winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in Manchester. He was the only person on 1915 for his work on crystallography. the list who was Jewish, although the President of the Royal Society between German-born physicist Arthur Schuster, 1935 and 1940. also associated with Manchester University,

14 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 14 14/5/09 12:44:03 had been born to Jewish parents who Funding had converted to Christianity – something Money was always a problem. By the that would, in Hitler’s eyes, have made no beginning of August 1933 the AAC difference at all to his racial status. had raised £10,000, mostly from British Women scholars and academics included academics and from the Central Jewish the physiologist Winifred Cullis, and the Fund. Einstein’s commitment post the Albert prison reformer Margery Fry. That there Hall meeting generated great enthusiasm were so few women is an indication of and a special fund was set up at the LSE, the times, and that all sorts of enlightened where the staff donated between 1-3% of social developments we now take for their annual salary to persecuted German granted, were still only at an embryonic colleagues. In 1936 Lord Rutherford sent stage. Theology was represented by the out a request for funds, which brought in Scottish scholar George Adam Smith. The additional funding. Classics provided a scholarly backbone of For those refugee scholars who could a different kind: the famous scholar and not immediately be placed in a new translator Gilbert Murray and the equally environment, the help that could be given distinguished classicist Alfred Edward was initially limited to £250 a year for a Housman who was also a world-famous married scholar, and £180 for an unmarried poet. man or woman. These grants were also At the name of AE Housman the ears remitted to professionals within Germany, of all musicians prick up because of who were unable to emigrate and who his connection with Ralph Vaughan were out of work, as a result of the Williams, and any number of other English introduction of the racial laws. composers. Housman was the author of the famous collection of poems entitled Heidelberg anniversary A Shropshire Lad. The song cycle to these celebrations words was by George Butterworth, a The continued need for AAC to position composer killed in the First World War. itself with some care in respect of This cycle is well-known to all baritones – international politics was highlighted in including myself. 1936, when Germany’s oldest university, Heidelberg, founded in 1386, was I have left the most topical name on the celebrating its 550th anniversary. As list until last – at least the most topical one could imagine, the Nazis wished to in terms of the financial turmoil we face make international propaganda out of today. This was the distinguished economist this occasion. It coincided with the 1936 John Maynard Keynes, who was working Olympic Games held in Berlin. Heidelberg on his magnum opus entitled The General invited universities from other countries Theory of Employment, Interest and Money to join the celebrations and thus hoped published in 1936. He sympathised with to legitimise their repugnant acts of Beveridge’s plan to help the German discrimination. academics without, however, devising a way to fund it.

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 15

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 15 14/5/09 12:44:03 This led to a vigorous debate in the credit, inspired by these great highly- columns of the Times, initiated by a letter principled men I have mentioned. from the Bishop of Durham in which he strongly opposed the acceptance of the There was, of course, as one might expect, Heidelberg invitation, having regard to the a lack of universal support in this country manner in which they and other German for the admission of refugees or providing universities were persecuting scholars on financial aid. While attempting to raise racial grounds. He was strongly supported funds for the AAC, Lord Rutherford received by, amongst many others, Sir Frederick the following letter from a fellow member Gowland Hopkins. of the :

An opposing view was held by other Dear Lord Rutherford establishment figures, such as Sir Josiah I received a communication from you Stamp (who like Hopkins had been a enclosing an appeal signed by various signatory of the 1933 letter that launched leading men (who ought to have known the AAC) and Sir Ian Hamilton, the latter better) appealing to augment the claiming that it was all the fault of the £28,000 already spent on finding jobs for Versailles Treaty which accounted for exiles. the rise of Hitler, and urged the British I could have contemplated with universities to go and see for themselves equanimity, the spending of £28,000 to before they severed ties with German keep them out, but I conceive it an act of universities. treachery to spend a penny to bring them in, to deprive our countrymen of posts in Beveridge strongly supported the Bishop of an over-crowded profession. Durham in this raging debate and said there ... To support this appeal for international was no need to go to Germany to see how iconoclasts in the name of science is the universities were acting, when so many debasing the peerage! of their Jewish academic colleagues had been driven into exile, as anyone with his The AAC at work eyes open could readily see. By the summer of 1933 the work of the Council was in full swing. Rutherford It was, of course, clear that the Heidelberg now wrote to the vice-chancellors of all celebrations were not an academic but a the British universities: ‘We shall be glad political affair, which was confirmed with to hear from you if your University is in speeches by the Rector and Goebbels. a position to find openings for any of Beveridge’s view was fully endorsed by AV those recommended men and women.’ Hill, Gowland Hopkins and Frederic Kenyon, He also asked for funds. Most of the and few people had any doubts as to the vice-chancellors responded positively if correctness of the line taken. At these cautiously. They were prepared to make celebrations the flags of 32 countries were facilities available, but were less certain hoisted, whose universities and colleges about the granting of funds. One university had sent delegations. However, the Union blamed the economic malaise, others Jack was absent. Every one of the British refused without giving any reasons. universities had stayed away to their great

16 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 16 14/5/09 12:44:03 11 Esther Simpson 12 Ernst Gombrich

The general secretary of AAC was Walter mentioned. Music was very important to (later Sir Walter) Adams, a lecturer in history her. She was a fine violinist and chamber at the LSE, but the heart and soul of the music player, a fact that further endears her organisation was his executive assistant, to me. The idea of this great work being Esther Simpson, affectionately known as combined with a love of music seems to Tess. me the most natural thing in the world. Through her interests in the arts she made Tess Simpson was at the centre of the friends with a range of refugees who were Academic Assistance Council and of not scientists: such as the distinguished art the Society for the Protection of Science historian Ernst Gombrich (whom I knew and Learning (SPSL) as the Council was quite well), the great Schubert scholar Otto renamed in 1936. Under her watchful and Erich Deutsch, the violinist Max Rostal, the sympathetic eye this specialist employment members of the Amadeus String Quartet, exchange for displaced academics had over the architectural historian Nicolaus Pevsner, 2,000 members registered on its books and and the philosopher Karl Popper. grew into a powerfully international force for good, making contacts with similar Until very recently, I had not known that organisations all over the free world. there was a member of my own family who lived in Berlin, the city of my mother’s The memoirs of Tess Simpson entitled birth, who was in touch with the Academic Refugee Scholars are a wonderful source Assistance Council and asking for help. He of information about the period. She had was Professor Selmar Aschheim, a well- worked in Breslau and Vienna and was known gynaecologist and a relative of fluent in German. She was Jewish by birth, my mother’s who at one time considered although she never said so, perhaps for emigration to Britain. Ascheim was some of the political reasons I have already Director of Reproductive Physiology at the

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 17

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 17 14/5/09 12:44:04 13 Max Born 14 Max Perutz

Charité in Berlin, one of the best-known Royal Society, and the National Academy hospitals in Europe before Hitler. Ascheim of Sciences of the U.S. It was agreed to described the first qualitative pregnancy set up an international body under the test, known as the Aschheim-Zondek chairmanship of the Danish Nobel Laureate test, published in 1927. I have seen some to broaden the work of the of this correspondence, which is now SPSL. Sadly events moved too fast and by housed in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. September 1939 war had broken out. With The AAC provided him with funds until the collapse of France in June 1940 the he emigrated to Paris in 1935 on being International Committee’s work similarly offered the Directorship of a national came to an end. research institution, for which one had to be a French citizen. He was, I understand, Nevertheless Louis Rapkine, with the naturalised immediately upon arrival in encouragement of Tess Simpson, saved the Paris. lives of hundreds of French scientists by arranging for them to be spirited away by By 1937 it was clear to the SPSL that American submarines. Rapkine was one of their work should be expanded to include Tess Simpson’s special heroes, as was the other European countries and the U.S. The philosopher . And her brilliant young biochemist Louis Rapkine many other heroes naturally included the from France took the lead and a meeting great scientists that had been relocated and was arranged with Lord Beveridge acting as saved thanks to the efforts of the Academic host in Oxford on 14-15 November 1937. Assistance Council and later the Society for Delegates represented France, Belgium, the Protection of Science and Learning. Denmark, Sweden, the Notgemeinschaft Deutscher Wissenschafter im Ausland (first Two other organisations were also active based in Zurich, but after 1935 located in in the cause of refugee academics. One London), the Council of German Jewry, the was the Notgemeinschaft Deutscher

18 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 18 14/5/09 12:44:06 Wissenschaftlicher im Ausland, based first • HERMANN BLASCHKO from Berlin, in Zurich and, after 1935, alongside the another distinguished neurophysiologist AAC in London. Its greatest success came who worked in Oxford. in placing around 50 German academics at • Sir , Nobel Laureate, born the new University of Istanbul. The other in Leipzig, protégé of AV Hill working in was the American Emergency Committee the same discipline of biophysics. He was for Displaced Scholars, based in New Biological Secretary of the Royal Society York, which had found positions for 161 between 1968 and 1976. European academic refugees by 1938. • Sir from Breslau Statistics from the early years of those – world-famous for his scientific and assisted by the AAC show that 18 were clinical work on paraplegia and father of awarded Nobel Prizes, 14 received the Para-Olympic games. He set up his Knighthoods and well over 100 became outstanding centre in Stoke-Mandeville. Fellows of the Royal Society or the British At one stage in my life I was active in Academy. This evening only a few of conducting clinical trials with a new drug them can be mentioned in passing; as I at their Rheumatological Centre. explained this lecture is mainly devoted to the British facilitators, rather than the • MAX PERUTZ from Vienna, who, after a German beneficiaries – but how proud long and distinguished career, including these British scholars must have been indispensable help to the war effort to survey the fruit of their labours. We that led to his naturalisation on Lord must not forget that the majority of the Mountbatten’s orders during the war, emigrants were at that time young and described the structure and functions fairly unknown people. Those who later of haemoglobin that led to the Nobel made significant contributions were able to Prize in 1962. Max was a very rare man, do so because Britain generously gave them scientist extraordinary, and of profound the opportunities that Nazi Germany had culture – what a pleasure always to denied them. They included: speak with him. His daughter, Vivien, is a dear friend and she not only listens • MAX BORN, a physics professor to my recordings, but always gives at Göttingen who was invited to me valuable advice, which is always Cambridge by Patrick Blackett. He profound. later became professor of physics at • The biochemist ERNST BORIS CHAIN from Edinburgh when he received the Nobel Berlin, one of the three men awarded Prize. His son, Gustav, is a dear friend the Nobel Prize for the discovery of and fellow pharmacologist of great in 1945. As many of you may distinction. I am very pleased to see him know, Penicillin’s powerful antibacterial here this evening. properties were first described by • The physiologist WILHELM FELDBERG in 1929 from the from , pioneer in the field of mould Notatum and isolated neurotransmission, whom I knew well and purified by Ernst Chain and Howard when he worked at the MRC unit in Florey in 1939 into the pure compound Mill Hill. that has saved millions of lives. I had

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 19

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 19 14/5/09 12:44:06 the great good fortune to spend three And then there is the story of the Sainsbury years working as a post doctoral fellow family. They set up a special home in Putney with Ernst Chain. He was also a fine in 1939 to house Kinderstransport children, pianist and accompanist for singers and I spoke to one of these Sainsbury and we have given numerous concerts beneficiaries only a few days ago. He is and charity performances – a great and Sir Günther Treitel, Emeritus Professor of unique man. English law at Oxford where he held the Vinerian chair, and is a world authority In mentioning so many distinguished names on contract law. Günther Treitel was ten of people I knew and some I worked with, years old when he arrived from Berlin and the wheel has come full circle. A debt to was put up at this hostel and wonderfully Britain and the British is what they and I looked after. It was Sir Robert Sainsbury, also have in common, and it is a bond of the father of Lord Sainsbury of Turville, who honour and gratitude. created the centre. When Sir Robert died, Kindertransport Sir Günther Treitel was one of the speakers at the celebration of the life of Sir Robert. In keeping with the theme of “Britain’s Gift”, and in parallel with the work of Both Sir David Attenborough and Lord the AAC for established scholars, the Sainsbury are dear friends, and Fellows Kindertransport scheme offered a lifeline of the Royal Society. I have the honour to children. Many of you will be familiar of serving on a committee of the Royal with this scheme, whereby the British Society chaired by Lord Sainsbury on which government agreed after the Kristallnacht both the President of the Royal Society, events to admit 10,000 Jewish children Lord Rees, and Sir David are active. Good from Nazi Germany who were absorbed by deeds in life are indeed recognised also by kind and generous British families or placed future generations. Similarly, those in the in hostels. I shall illustrate its workings by AAC who put their trust in the talents and reference to the great acts of kindness hard work of the refugee academics were and humanity shown by two distinguished vindicated and richly rewarded in terms British families – both with strong links to of manifold achievements in science and the Royal Society. learning.

Recently, during the course of lunch, Conclusion Sir David Attenborough, who needs no Of course, we have only touched on introduction, told me a remarkable story the very beginnings of the outstanding from 1939. His father came home one day organisation now known as CARA. In and told the three Attenborough boys that confining ourselves to the years before they would shortly be joined by two young 1938, we have not reached the annexation ladies from Berlin and that these would be of Austria, much less the war itself and their new sisters. The girls stayed with the the numerous problems that arose with Attenborough family until well after the war the internment of all German nationals. and remained closely in touch thereafter. “Collar the lot” was Churchill’s directive. These girls came to Britain under the The AAC, Tess Simpson, and many other Kindertransport scheme. scientific personalities were able to take

20 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 20 14/5/09 12:44:06 15 Hans Krebs

many of these people out of internment to carry out his life, and bring it to a close and place them in employment. After the as is ordained. It is where he has put his war there was ever continuing work with roots down into the earth, which he has academics from many other countries who broken by his own toil”. Whilst working in found themselves unable to make their Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins’ laboratory, living because of political pressure. It was Krebs said that he became fully aware and an endless struggle and the work is far from acquainted with the meaning of the words: over. What has been done by CARA and its “the British way of life”. antecedents since its modest beginnings is beyond praise. Another distinguished refugee from Hungary, Arthur Koestler, described the I will close with the words of the culture of the British as follows: biochemist, Sir Hans Krebs from Hildesheim, a pupil of Otto Warburg in Berlin, who won A civilisation which admired character the in 1953. I had instead of , stoicism instead of the great privilege of knowing Hans Krebs temperament, nonchalance instead of and I should perhaps mention that his first diligence, the tongue-tied manner instead appointment in Sheffield was lecturer in of the art of eloquence. pharmacology. His son is Principal of Jesus According to Koestler it is the European College Oxford: John, now Lord Krebs, is a with his brains and temperament, his hard dear friend. work and his eloquence who seems the Quoting Karl Zuckmayer, himself a refugee easier person to admire – not the hearty, from Nazi Germany, Hans Krebs said inexpressive emotionally relatively cold “Home is not where a man is born, but British stereotype. where he wants to die, where he wants

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 21

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 21 14/5/09 12:44:07 But we, who know and love Britain, British, not to flatter them, and above all to understand and appreciate another side to show our admiration and indebtedness to the story. Once again Hans Krebs summed CARA for what they have done for so many up for us all what it had been like to live at a critical time of their lives. Sadly, their in Britain and to have become part of the work must go on in this imperfect world family of British scientists. Here he defines of ours. It is up to us to make sure that this the British way of life as he experienced essential organisation can continue its rich it in Hopkins’ laboratory in Cambridge, tradition of helping those unfortunates who and these wise and perceptive words have do not enjoy the freedom and liberty which reverberated round the world: many in our country take for granted. What AV Hill wrote, at the time that the AAC was The laboratory included people of many first established 75 years ago, from the two different dispositions, connections and small attic rooms of the Royal Society at abilities. I saw them argue without Burlington House, remains forever true: quarrelling, quarrel without suspecting, suspect without abusing, criticise without Tolerance and intellectual freedom vilifying or ridiculing, and praise without cannot be established once and for all flattering. in human society, but demand continual watchfulness and effort. Ladies and Gentleman, the object of tonight’s lecture has been to praise the

22 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 22 14/5/09 12:44:07 Afterword

Sir John Ashworth, CARA President

Dr Ralph Kohn launched our 75th problems that refugees present); our anniversary conference with an enlightening UK grant Programme continues to help and inspiring lecture. It was not only a refugee academics rebuild their lives and wonderful and deeply moving tribute to careers through personal support, advice, the unique humane and dedicated work academic fellowships and grants for further of some extraordinary British subjects, qualifications; and through our developing interwoven with fascinating personal Middle East programme, CARA is helping to connections from Ralph’s own life, but sustain Iraqi’s academic capital to ensure it a remarkable opportunity to bring many can play its vital role in the reconstruction of different people together: some who knew Iraq and the Iraqi Higher Education sector. of CARA in the early days; some who had directly benefitted from the work of the All this is not to deny, though, that I am organisation; and some who didn’t know angered and deeply saddened by the fact of our existence until receiving the lecture that there is such a high demand for our invitation. work. In the last 75 years there has been an ever increasing need for the kind of It was extremely uplifting to be reminded of support that we were founded to provide. how well even the worst of situations can Political; racial; religious and other forms sometimes turn out for some individuals. of intolerance have spread throughout the Sadly, at CARA we have to struggle today world and generated an unending stream with the same issues that dogged the lives of academic refugees – it always seems to of our predecessors that Ralph talked so be the academics and intellectuals who bear wonderfully about: never enough money; the first and worst brunt of these passions public indifference if not hostility; impossible – despite the overwhelming evidence of the deadlines; bureaucratic obfuscation and costs, both personal and social, to a country delay – the list is endless. It seems that of losing their intellectual elite. nothing changes. Birthdays are meant to be happy But of course things do change and the two celebrations and ours had its joyful moments day conference, ‘In Defence of Learning: The but my greatest wish, and our greatest Past and the Present’, that followed Ralph’s 75th birthday present, would be for CARA lecture provided an inspiring reminder of to gather enough support to enable it to that. Our University Network, a powerful continue the work it was established to do, collaboration dedicated to the promotion by the great people Ralph has mentioned, and defence of academic freedom through and help ALL those in need of CARA’s practical support for persecuted and refugee financial, practical and moral support today academics, reaches an ever increasing and in the coming years. number of universities (we will shortly be publishing a Handbook of “best practice” Please, before you put this aside, do make a to help universities cope with the particular donation on our website. It could make such a difference.

Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009 23

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 23 14/5/09 12:44:07 Acknowledgements

Professor John Akker, CARA Executive Secretary

The numerous requests for a publication are a clear indication as to the impact Dr Ralph Kohn’s lecture had on the audience fortunate to have a seat in the Royal Society’s Wellcome Lecture Hall on 3 December 2008.

CARA is immensely thankful to Dr Ralph Kohn for the time and effort he put into this lecture, and to Mr Dov and Mrs Rachel Gottesman and the Royal Society, particularly Dr Peter Collins, for making this publication possible.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to Professor David Zimmerman whose research and publications have provided a substantial source of information for this text. Grateful thanks are also due to Jeremy Seabrook and Laura Wintour for their detailed research and support.

Our thanks to the following for their kind permission to reproduce the illustrations within the text: Godfrey Argent Studios (AV Hill); Prof Gustav Born (Max Born); CARA (Simpson); , (Rutherford); Leonie Gombrich (Ernst Gombrich); Nicholas Humphrey (Freud); Ralph Kohn (Chain/Kohn, Kohn); LSE Archives (Beveridge); Manchester University (Ashby); Medical Research Council (Perutz); Royal Society (Blackett, Einstein, Hopkins); United States Holocaust Museum (book burning); (Krebs); Egon Weiss Collection (Szilard).

24 Nazi persecution – Britain’s gift: a personal reflection Dr Ralph Kohn FRS I May 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 24 14/5/09 12:44:07 The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) London South Bank University Technopark 90 London Road SE1 6LN T: 0207 021 0880 E: [email protected] W: www.academic-refugees.org

Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010, we are working to achieve five strategic priorities:

• Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation

• Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice

• Invigorate science and mathematics education

• Increase access to the best science internationally

• Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery

ISBN: 978-0-85403-755-1 Issued: May 2009 RS1513 Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science Registered Charity No 207043 © The Royal Society and CARA, 2009

PL_booklet_RS1513_CARA Lecture_May09.indd 26 21/5/09 07:13:13