Description:

Albert Einstein
Princeton, NJ, March 1, 1935
Einstein 1935 TLS, Hopes to Warn Non-Jews of "The true nature of the Hitler regime"
TLS

A typed letter signed by Albert Einstein, declining an invitation due to work priorities and commenting on the "detestable" German propaganda organ "Der Sturmer". 1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", Princeton, dated March 1, 1935. Signed "A. Einstein" and addressed to Jesse M. Mendheim. A prophetic letter, written in German, in which Einstein alludes to the growing shadow of Hitler's regime and his hope that his collection of the German newspaper might be used to educate non-Jewish Americans about the Nazi mentality. With flattened mail folds. A small area of loss at the top edge. Minor, uneven toning on verso. Boldly signed.

Translation in full:

"I sincerely thank you for sending me 'Der Stürmer' and for your kind invitation. Unfortunately, I cannot accept the latter in the foreseeable future, as I must refrain from doing so for the sake of my work. You may be interested to know that last summer, I received a large number of issues of this detestable monument to German barbarism, sent to me directly by the editorial office of 'Der Stürmer'. I could leave this collection at your disposal for review if you require such material. It would be very beneficial if my collection could be used to inform non-Jewish circles here about the true nature of the Hitler regime. In my opinion, not enough is being done in this regard."

Einstein left his homeland after Hitler came to power in 1933. Seen by the German government as a public enemy, Einstein's works were among those targeted by the German Student Union in the Nazi book burnings. One German magazine even included him in a list of enemies of the German regime with the phrase, "not yet hanged", offering a $5,000 bounty on his head. In 1935, he made the decision to remain permanently in the United States and applied for citizenship, renouncing his German citizenship.

"Der Sturmer" was a weekly German tabloid-format newspaper published in Nuremberg from 1923 until the end of World War II, under the supervision of rabid anti-Semite, Julius Streicher. The paper, carrying the motto: "The Jew is our misfortune" was a significant part of Nazi propaganda. On May 23, 1945, Streicher was captured in the town of Waidring, Austria, by a group of American officers of the 101st Airborne Division. Although he was not a member of the military and did not take part in planning the Holocaust, his actions during the war were significant enough to include him in the trial of Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. He was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death on October 1, 1946. He was hanged at Nuremberg Prison two weeks later, along with the nine other condemned defendants from the first Nuremberg trial.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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    Dimensions:
  • 8.5" x 11"
  • Artist Name:
  • Albert Einstein
  • Medium:
  • TLS<br />

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April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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