How one law changed the face of Istanbul University #MondayBlogs #History #WWII #JewishHistory #Turkishhistory

How can one law possibly have such an influence on Istanbul University? And a law implemented in another country at that! At times of great conflict and social upheaval, anything – good and bad – is possible. In this case, I’m referring to the Nazi regime. It goes without saying that the policies of the Third Reich had far-reaching effects. Let’s look at the specific example of university professors.

Only two months after Adolf Hitler attained power on April 7, 1933, the “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service” was passed. This law banned Jews from being employed by the government. This law reached educational systems as university professors were civil servants. All Jewish professors lost their positions while German professors stood by.

Two months later, on May 31, 1933, a Turkish government decree announced a university reform. A Swiss professor, Albert Malche, had been commissioned by the Turkish government to assess the state of Turkey’s higher educational system. As a result of these findings, the Dârülfünun, the university in Istanbul founded in the nineteenth century, was to be closed and a new university to be created. This completely new university would need to recruit internationally renowned teaching staff.

Considering the dire state of academics of Jewish descent in Germany, academic emigres from Nazi Germany met in Zurich where they formed an advisory office for German scientists. This group, with the support of Malche, then attempted to secure positions in Turkey for as many German emigrants as possible. They hoped to possibly secure three positions for German scientists.

As a result of the two events – the passing of the repressive law in Nazi Germany and the desire to close Dârülfünun to build a modern university – eighty-two German professors began teaching in the winter semester of 1933 – 1934 at Istanbul University. The professors were allowed to hire assistants of their choosing making it possible for an additional 70 to 100 people to flee the Nazi regime.

Financially, these exiled professors were in a much better position than their Turkish counterparts. Their salaries were considerably higher than those of their Turkish colleagues. They also enjoyed a special position that protected them from repressive refugee policies.

Although many professors didn’t stay past their initial five-year contract with the university, they left behind a legacy. They helped establish the university itself. They drafted textbooks, some of which are still in use today. As experts in their fields, they also contributed to public service in various ways. For example, several of Turkey’s fundamental laws were drafted by a German émigré.

Although I’d thought about writing a novel set in Istanbul for years, it was only when I learned the above that I was actually able to start drafting my story.

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This blog is the fourth in a series of blogs I’m writing about the research I’ve done for my latest novel, Searching for Gertrude. The previous blogs are Why I chose Istanbul as the setting, Anti-semitism or antisemitism? and Modern Istanbul’s most infamous resident. Just click on the blog title to read the article.