Jewish intellectual life and German scientific culture during the Weimar period: the case of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society

Abstract

Weimar Germany was a great period in scientific development in which Jews played a prominent role. However, Nazi anti-Jewish policies led to the dismissal of many staff members and directors of the institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, who were forced to go abroad. In their new environment they became major leaders in science notably in the new branches such as molecular biology with a continuing loss to Germany.