Abstract
MAY an English university teacher, who is at present enjoying the hospitality of a scientific institute in Göttingen, protest against the article in NATURE of April 24? It is undeniable that the University of Göttingen has suffered serious losses under the Nazi regime, and many features of the present university administration are entirely deplorable. On the other hand, there still remain in Göttingen men of considerable distinction (to mention only four outstanding names: Eucken, physical chemist; Windaus, organic chemist and Nobel prizeman; Prandtl, hydrodynamics; Rein, physiologist), who are continuing in the face of difficulties to maintain a high standard of scientific research and teaching. They are in no way responsible for the present administration; the statement that ” Göttingen ceased in 1933 to be a scientific centre” is an unjustified insult and a discouragement which they feel most bitterly. The removal of the Jews from German universities, much as we may deplore it, is now complete and irrevocable. We have already indicated our disapproval with more than sufficient force, and a continuation of the campaign of abuse and boycott serves no conceivable purpose except to irritate the extremists to still further excesses and hurt the feelings of those moderates whose efforts to maintain the standard of academic learning need and deserve all the encouragement we can give.
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LAMBERT, J. The University of Göttingen. Nature 139, 930 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139930a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139930a0
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