Albert Einstein's Escape From Nazi Germany at Merseyside Maritime Museum Exhibition

Written by Lucy Gardner Monday, 09 May 2011 23:02

LIVERPOOL.- Immigration documents relating to Albert Einstein’s dramatic escape from Nazi Germany have been discovered and will go on show for the very first time at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Einstein, one of the most prominent figures of the last century, fled from his native Germany when Adolph Hitler came to power. The scientist, who was Jewish, arrived in England while a bounty had been put on his head by the Nazis who named him an enemy of the regime. UK Border Agency National Museum (Seized! The Border and Customs uncovered) is located in the basement of the Merseyside Maritime Museum at Albert Dock. The landing card is on display from Tuesday 10 May.  Visit : http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/

The landing card is proof of Einstein’s journey from Belgium to Dover on 26 May 1933. Now, after nearly 80 years stored away at Heathrow Airport, the landing card issued to the ‘father of modern physics’ has been discovered by curators.

Lucy Gardner, assistant curator of the Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered gallery at Merseyside Maritime Museum said: “We didn’t know this landing card ever existed until we visited UK Border Agency officers at Heathrow.

“We were keen on acquiring any documents relating to immigration but were stunned to find paperwork relating to such a prominent historical figure as Albert Einstein. What’s remarkable is that the landing card bears his signature, has his profession as ‘professor’ and lists his nationality at Swiss.

“This shows how Einstein had renounced his German citizenship only weeks earlier in angry reaction to Nazi policies.

“This tiny piece of paper brings to life Einstein’s escape from the Nazis to England. This country became a safe haven for him until he eventually settled in the US.

“Without doubt this is one of the most important objects obtained for the Seized! gallery in recent years and we can’t wait to put it on display.”

Landing cards were completed by all passengers arriving in Britain. This card marks Albert Einstein's arrival at Dover on 26 May 1933 from Ostende, Belgium. He describes his occupation as professor and nationality Swiss. On the reverse he states to Immigration officers he is bound for Oxford.

Einstein's discoveries in physics changed the way we look at the world. His theories of special and general relativity (1905 and 1916) were groundbreaking. A worldwide reputation was recognized by a Nobel Prize for his contribution to science in 1921. He held the respected position of professor at the Prussian Academy of Science in Berlin, Germany from 1914.



Safety In America

Einstein traveled to New York onboard the 'Westernland', leaving Southampton on 7 October 1933. He had planned to return to Oxford to take up a teaching post, but never did so. Einstein remained in America through fear of the political situation in Europe.

On arrival Einstein took up the position of professor at the Institute for Advance Study at Princeton, New Jersey. Just before the Second World War in 1939 Einstein wrote a letter to the US President Franklin D Roosevelt advising him that Nazi Germany were attempting to build an atomic bomb. He suggested America should do something to respond to this threat.

Einstein gained American citizenship in 1940 and enjoyed the freedom to express his views. He feared the use of the new atomic power, and was deeply upset by the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. He became chairman of the Emergency Committee for Atomic Scientists in 1946. Their aim was to raise awareness of the destructive potential of new scientific discoveries, including atomic power.

Until his death in 1955 he continued to work among the top scientists in the world and was vocal in his opinions on world politics.

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