Language:
English
Year of publication:
1989
Titel der Quelle:
Journal of Contemporary History
Angaben zur Quelle:
24,1 (1989) 63-89
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Abstract:
Details the battle for official recognition between the Deutsche Physik movement and the established physics community, which supported modern theoretical physics - i.e. quantum physics and the theory of relativity. Deutsche Physik was founded by two Nobel prize winners, Philipp Lenard and Johannes Stark, who rejected key aspects of Einstein's theory of relativity but were unable to obtain recognition for their views. Their frustration was translated into antisemitic and anti-democratic sentiments and, with the Nazi takeover in 1933, the two became the focus of a group of young scientists calling for the establishment of an Aryan science. Established physicists, such as Werner Heisenberg, were attacked as "Jewish in character" and "white Jews" (i.e. Aryans who had been tainted by Jewish influence). The Deutsche Physik group had an important influence until 1940; however, as the war continued, with the growing need for a modern physics to support German industry, Deutsche Physik declined.
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