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Physics and National Socialism

An Anthology of Primary Sources

Klaus Hentschel (Herausgeber)

Buch | Hardcover

406 Seiten

1996 | 1996
Springer Basel (Verlag)
978-3-7643-5312-4 (ISBN)

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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.

I Controversies Prior to 1933.- 1 A. Einstein: My Reply. On the Anti-Relativity Theoretical Co., Ltd., Aug. 27, 1920.- 2 M. von Laue: Review of J. Stark’s The Current Crisis in German Physics, Jan. 12, 1923.- 3 P. Lenard & J. Stark: The Hitler Spirit and Science, May 8, 1924.- 4 A. von Brunn: Review of 100 Authors against Einstein, Mar.13, 1931.- II After the Nazi Seizure of Power.- 5 L. Meitner: Letter to Otto Hahn, Mar. 21, 1933.- 6 A. Einstein: Letters to the Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Academy’s Response, Mar. 28-Apr. 5, 1933.- 7 Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, Apr. 7, 1933.- 8 First Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, Apr. 11, 1933.- 9 Göttinger Zeitung: Voluntary Resignation of Prof. James Franck, Apr. 17, 1933.- 10 Edith Hahn: Letter to James and Ingrid Franck, Apr. 22, 1933.- 11 Göttingen University Lecturers: Professor Franck’s Resignation, Apr. 24, 1933.- 12 Law against the Overcrowding of German Schools and Universities, Apr. 25, 1933..- 13 W. Köhler: Conversations in Germany, Apr. 28, 1933.- 14 Vossische Zeitung: The Spirit at Universities, Apr. 28, 1933.- 15 F. Haber: Letter of Resignation to Minister Rust, Apr. 30, 1933.- 16 J. Franck: Letter to Walther Gerlach, May 3, 1933.- 17 Third Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, May 6, 1933.- 18 P. Lenard: A Big Day for Science. Johannes Stark appointed President of the PTR. May 13, 1933.- 19 M. von Laue: The Change in the Reich Physical and Technical Institute Presidency in the Spring of 1933.- 20 H. Kopfermann: Letter to Niels Bohr, May 23, 1933.- 21 Science: The Scientific Situation in Germany, June 2, 1933.- 22 W. Heisenberg: Letter to Max Born, June 2, 1933.- 23 C. Bosch: Letter to Fritz Haber, June 16, 1933.- 24 F. Haber: Letter to Carl Bosch, June 22, 1933.- 25 Governor of Hessen: Dismissal of George Jaf-fe, June 26, 1933.- 26 J. J. Thomson: Letter to George Jaffe, July 18, 1933.- 27 M. von Laue: Opening Address at the Physics Conference in Wiirzburg, Sep. 18, 1933.- 28 J. Stark: Organization of Physical Research, Sep. 18, 1933.- 29 M. von Laue: Fritz Haber †, Feb. 16, 1934.- 30 Kaiser Wilhelm Society: Record of a Conference Regarding the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics, June 22, 1934.- 31 M. von Laue: On Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Relations and their Epistemological Significance, June 29, 1934.- 32 J. Stark: Personal Evaluations of G. Hertz and R. Gans for the German University Lecturers Association, Nov. 8, 1934.- 33 G. Mie: Letter to Max von Laue, Nov. 20, 1934.- 34 M. von Laue: Letter to Gustav Mie, Nov. 22, 1934.- 35 M. Wien: Physics at German Universities, late Nov. 1934.- 36 Law on the Retirement and Transfer of Professors as a Result of the Reorganization of the German System of Higher Education, Jan. 21, 1935.- 37 M. Nordmeyer: Letter to Lise Meitner, May 21, 1935.- 38 M. Planck: Progress Report by the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of the Sciences (April 1934 to the End of March 1935), June 28, 1935.- 39 P. Lenard: Foreword to German Physics, August 1935.- 40 J. Stark: Philipp Lenard: An Aryan Scientist, Dec. 13, 1935.- 41 Nature: Nazi-Socialism and International Science, Dec. 14, 1935.- III The Ideological Schism:.- 42 W. Menzel: German Physics and Jewish Physics, Jan. 29, 1936.- 43 W. Heisenberg: On the Article: ‘German and Jewish Physics’, Feb. 28, 1936.- 44 J. Stark: Comment on W. Heisenberg’s Reply, Feb. 28, 1936.- 45 M. von Laue: Review of Philipp Lenard’s German Physics, Feb. 29, 1936.- 46 E. Gehrcke: How the Energy Distribution of Black-Body Radiation Was Really Found, Apr. 3, 1936.- 47 P. Debye: Comment on the Preceding Article by E. Gehrcke, May 4, 1936.- 48 P. Thiessen: Physical Chemistry in the National Socialist State, May 9, 1936.- 49 W. Heisenberg, H. Geiger & M. Wien: Petition, Spring 1936.- 50 Reich Education Ministry: Memorandum to Reich Minister Bernhard Rust, Oct. 2, 1936.- 51 Science: Germany and the Nobel Prizes, Feb. 12, 1937.- 52 B. Rust: Creation of a Research Council, Mar. 16, 1937.- 53 Reich Education Ministry: The Taking of a Doctorate by Jews of German Nationality, Apr. 15, 1937.- 54 P. Debye: Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics, Apr. 23, 1937.- 55 Das Schwarze Korps: ‘White Jews’ in Science, July 15, 1937.- 56 J. Stark: ‘Science’ is Politically Bankrupt, July 15, 1937.- 57 F. Hund: Letter to Reich Minister Rust, July 20, 1937.- 58 C. Krauch: Youth to the Front Line. New Blood in Science and Technology, August 1937.- 59 F. Heyer: Review of E. Günther’s Military Physics, Apr. 18, 1938.- 60 C. Bosch: Letter to Reich Minister W. Frick, May 20, 1938.- 61 Reich Interior Ministry: Letter to Carl Bosch, June 16, 1938.- 62 L. Prandtl: Letter to Heinrich Himmler, July 12, 1938.- 63 H. Himmler: Letter to Reinhard Heydrich, July 21, 1938.- 64 H. Himmler: Letter to Werner Heisenberg, July 21, 1938.- 65 H. Himmler: Letter to Ludwig Prandtl, July 21, 1938.- 66 Reich Education Ministry: Memorandum to Secretary Otto Wacker, Oct. 3, 1938.- 67 P. Debye: Letter to the board of the German Physical Society and enclosed draft letter to the German members, Dec. 2 & 8, 1938.- 68 German Physical Society: Minutes of Meeting, Dec. 14, 1938.- 69 P. W. Bridgman: ‘Manifesto’ by a Physicist, Feb. 24, 1939.- 70 L. Prandtl: Mechanics, c. April 1939.- 71 H. Geiger: Experimental Physics, c. April 1939.- 72 A. Esau: Technical Physics, c. April 1939.- 73 SS Head of the Central Office of Public Safety: Letter to R. Mentzel enclosing Report on Heisenberg, May 26, 1939.- 74 S. Flügge: Exploiting Atomic Energy, Aug. 15, 1939.- IV Physics at War:.- 75 E. Schumann: Armed Forces and Research, 1939.- 76 M. Planck: Max von Laue, Oct. 6, 1939.- 77 L. Glaser: Jews in Physics: Jewish Physics, November 1939.- 78 P. Lenard: Foreword to Ideological Continental Blockade, Feb. 1, 1940.- 79 Contract between the Army Ordnance Office and the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, Mar. 6, 1940.- 80 B. Rust: Letter to Army High Command, Mar. 15, 1940.- 81 E. Telschow: Foreword to Yearbook of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, August 1940.- 82 H.-J. Flechtner: Where does German Physics Stand Today? A Wartime Conference in Berlin, Sep. 8, 1940.- 83W. Müller: Theoretical Physics at Universities, Nov. 1940.- 84 L. Prandtl: Letter to Hermann Goring, Apr. 28, 1941.- 85 L. Prandtl: Attachment to the Letter to Goring, Apr. 28, 1941.- 86 C. Ramsauer: Letter to Ludwig Prandtl, June 4, 1941.- 87 P. Jordan: Revolution in Science, September 1941.- 88 C. Ramsauer: Letter to Ludwig Prandtl, Oct. 31, 1941.- 89 W. Weizel: Review of Jewish and German Physics, Jan. 1942.- 90 C. Ramsauer: Letter to Bernhard Rust, Jan. 20, 1942.- 91 C. Ramsauer: American Physics Outdoes German Physics, Jan. 20, 1942.- 92 C. Ramsauer: Refuting Allegations that Modern Theoretical Physics is a Product of the Jewish Spirit, Jan. 20, 1942.- 93 C. Ramsauer: The Munich Conciliation and Pacification Attempt, Jan. 20, 1942.- 94 L. Prandtl: Letter to Carl Ramsauer, Jan. 28, 1942.- 95 W. Heisenberg: The Theoretical Basis for the Generation of Energy from Uranium Fission, Feb. 26, 1942.- 96 G. Graue: Letter to Albert Vögler, Mar. 13, 1942.- 97 A. Vögler: Foreword to Yearbook of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, after Mar. 31, 1942.- 98 Führer’s Decree on the Reich Research Council, June 9, 1942.- 99 H. Göring et al.: Record of Conference Regarding the Reich Research Council, July 6, 1942.- 100 H. Feitl: War Physics. Specific Weight ‘Zero’, May 30, 1943.- 101 P. Karlson: War Physics. Dropping Bombs, May 30, 1943.- 102 C. Ramsauer: The Key Position of Physics in Science, Technology and Armament, June 18, 1943.- 103 A. Esau: Budget Memorandum to R. Mentzel, Nov. 19, 1943.- 104 K. Diebner: Nuclear Research Commissions, Apr. 18, 1944.- 105 Das Reich: A[braham]. Esau, July 16, 1944.- 106 H. Himmler: Letter to Albert Speer, Aug. 3, 1944.- 107 W. Gerlach: Letter to Martin Bormann, Dec. 16, 1944.- V The Legacy of National Socialism.- 108 L. Meitner: Letter to Otto Hahn, June 27, 1945.- 109 A. Weinberg & L. Nordheim: Memorandum on the Kernphysikalische Forschungsberichte, Nov. 8, 1945.- 110 W. Finkelnburg: The Fight against Party Physics, c. 1946.- 111 S. Goudsmit: War Physics in Germany, January 1946.- 112 S. Goudsmit: German Scientists in Army Employment I — The Case Analyzed, February 1947.- 113 H. Bethe & H. Sack: German Scientists in Army Employment II — A Protest, February 1947.- 114 M. Planck: My Audience with Adolf Hitler, May 6, 1947.- 115 W. Heisenberg: Research in Germany on the Technical Application of Atomic Energy, Aug. 16, 1947.- 116 S. Goudsmit: Nazis’ Atomic Secrets, Oct. 20, 1947.- 117 M.v. Laue: Wartime Activities of German Scientists, April 1948.- 118 P. Morrison: A Reply to Dr. von Laue, April 1948.- 119 S. Goudsmit: Our Task in Germany, April 1948.- 120 L. Meitner: Letter to Otto Hahn, June 6, 1948.- 121 W. Gerlach: Affidavit on Rudolf Mentzel, Dec. 13, 1948.- A Professional Institutions and Associations.- B State and Military Institutions.- C National Socialist Organizations.- D Some Major Industrial Firms.- E Journals and Periodicals.- F Biographical Profiles.- Name Index.

Erscheint lt. Verlag	28.3.1996
Reihe/Serie	Science Networks. Historical Studies
Übersetzer	A.M. Hentschel
Zusatzinfo	406 p.
Verlagsort	Basel
Sprache	englisch
Gewicht	1256 g
Themenwelt	Naturwissenschaften ► Chemie
	Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
	Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management
Schlagworte	Albert Einstein • Chemistry • Distribution • Drittes Reich / 3. Reich; Geistes-/Kultur-Geschichte • Drittes Reich; Geistes-/Kultur-Geschichte • Education • Evaluation • History of physics • James Franck • Modern Physics • Nation • National Socialism • Niels Bohr • Physical Chemistry • Physics • Physik, Geschichte • Socialism • Werner Heisenberg
ISBN-10	3-7643-5312-0 / 3764353120
ISBN-13	978-3-7643-5312-4 / 9783764353124
Zustand	Neuware