Since coming into power in 1933, the national socialists in Germany pursued their oppressing, discriminating and racist policies even in the fields of science. They tried to control all aspects of life, including culture, science and education. Many decrees and orders pushed disliked and “non-Aryan” economists, scientists and scholars out of their sphere of activity and replaced them with followers of their regime. Overall about half a million people migrated from the NS-regime. 12,000 of them were part of the former German intellectual elite. Among them were about 1,700 academic scholars, which will be the focus of this paper. Not everyone could escape easily, because the immigration policies of the receiving countries were not only driven by humanity and often strict. Besides the ideal of “free science”, most countries were anxious to submit suitable applicants including persons whose work in the world of science, of the arts or business and industry may be advantageous to their country. Also they had to consider the politics of internal and foreign affairs. However, a lot of scientists were supported by special organizations which were designed to help high skilled workers with their emigration. But still it was not easy for them to integrate in the new countries. In their receiving countries the former German elite has made enormous progress in research and even made an impact on post-war Germany.
The common view is that the receiving countries gained while Germany lost due to this brain drain. The paper discusses the question whether this view is appropriate and points out that it is problematic to handle with these simple terms. Beyond that, it claims that one cannot speak of a emigration-induced scientific change without considering many prerequisites.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Preconditions that lead to the Emigration
- Cultural and Scientific Background
- Laws and Decrees of the NS regime
- Circumstances of the Emigration
- Situation in Germany
- Situation in the Receiving Countries
- Problems of the Emigration: Integration, Xenophobia and Isolationism
- Prospects of the Emigration: Receiving Countries and Organizations start to think things over
- Impacts of the Emigration
- In the Receiving Countries
- In Germany
- The Role of the Emigration
- Emigration-induced Scientific Change
- Gain-and-loss
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the forced and voluntary emigration of scientists, scholars, and economists from Germany between 1933 and 1945 due to the oppressive policies of the National Socialist regime. The main objectives are to analyze the preconditions leading to the exodus, investigate the circumstances of the emigration, and evaluate the impacts on both the receiving countries and Germany. * **Preconditions for Emigration:** The paper explores the cultural and scientific background of the emigrant scientists, including the ideological clashes with the NS regime, and analyzes the discriminatory laws and decrees implemented by the Nazis that forced many academics out of their positions. * **Circumstances of Emigration:** The analysis focuses on the challenges faced by the emigrant scientists, including difficulties with integration, xenophobia, and isolationism in their new countries. It also examines the role of international organizations in assisting the emigration process. * **Impacts of Emigration:** The paper evaluates the long-term effects of the emigration on both the receiving countries and Germany, highlighting the contributions of the emigrant scientists to scientific progress and examining the concept of a "brain drain" from Germany. * **The Role of Emigration:** The paper investigates the extent to which the emigration led to scientific change and discusses the complexities of evaluating the "gain-and-loss" perspectives. * **Historical Context:** The analysis provides a historical context for understanding the motivations behind the emigration, the challenges faced by the emigrant scientists, and the long-term consequences for both Germany and the receiving countries.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic of the paper, focusing on the forced and voluntary emigration of scientists, scholars, and economists from Germany during the Nazi era. It discusses the preconditions leading to the exodus, including the ideological clashes with the NS regime, and outlines the main themes of the paper.
The second chapter delves into the preconditions that led to the emigration, exploring both the cultural and scientific background of the emigrant scientists and the specific laws and decrees implemented by the Nazi regime. It discusses the ideological differences between the emigrant scientists and the NS regime, as well as the consequences of the regime's policies for the academic community.
The third chapter examines the circumstances surrounding the emigration, focusing on the situation in Germany and the receiving countries. It explores the challenges faced by the emigrant scientists, including difficulties with integration, xenophobia, and isolationism in their new countries. It also examines the role of international organizations in assisting the emigration process.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the paper include: forced migration, scientific emigration, Nazi regime, discrimination, intellectual exodus, academic freedom, scientific change, "brain drain," gain-and-loss perspectives, receiving countries, integration, xenophobia, isolationism, and international organizations. The paper focuses on the impact of the emigration on both the receiving countries and Germany, analyzing the long-term consequences for both nations in terms of scientific progress and cultural development.- Quote paper
- Markus Stegmann (Author), 2009, Escape of Science – The Emigration and Forced Migration of Scientists, Scholars and Economists from Germany 1933-1945, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/147150
