Werner Heisenberg on the Nazi Revolution

My long-standing interest in fate of German academic in Third Reich grew out of my experience as an exchange student at University of Heidelberg in 1935 and 1936, years in which Hitler was rapidly consolidating his power. In March of latter year his great gamble of sending troops into Rhineland paid off all too well, and by August he was preening himself with Olympic games. Meanwhile Nazis were tightening their grip on German universities, a fact vividly symbolized at Heidelberg by custom of most of professors opening and closing their lectures with Heil Hitler. At same time persecution of Jews was proceeding at a rapid pace. Thus, by April 1936 forty-two full professors plus an even greater number of academic assistants and university employees were forced into retirement.' Most were Jewish or political undesirables. However, one of my favorite lecturers, systematic theologian Robert Jelke, was forced to cancel his lectures midway through semester.2 All but most famous professors like Karl Jaspers and Martin Dibelius were fair game for Nazi persecutors, and presence of some students in class in S.A. uniforms added greatly to atmosphere of intimidation. The year 1936 happened to be 550th anniversary of founding of University of Heidelberg; and on 28 June rector, Wilhelm Groh, a member of law faculty, sent a telegram to Hitler, praising him as the liberator of German spirit and preserver of German culture, addressing him as mein Fiihrer, and assuring him of University's faith and loyalty in struggle for perfection of German education and development as a Volk.3 Such was ambience at time at one of oldest and most prestigious universities of

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