As a Jew living in Germany in the 1920s , Albert Einsteinhad an up - close view of the Nazis ’ rise to powerfulness . As early as 1922 , he could see troubled political times ahead , as a letter to his babe reveals . The handwritten , ratify letter late trade at auction for $ 39,360,Live Sciencereports .
The missive , offered by the Jerusalem - basedKedem Auction House , is addressed to Einstein ’s younger sister Maja . Einstein wrote it from an unrevealed localisation — probably Kiel , Germany , according to the auction star sign — after he fled Berlin in 1922 in the wake of the assassination of Germany ’s Jewish foreign minister , Walther Rathenau , by a correct - fender terrorist group . Police had warn Einstein that as a prominent Jew his life story could be in peril , too . “ Nobody screw where I am , and I ’m believed to be missing , ” he compose in the letter of the alphabet .
He remain pollyannaish while at the same time acknowledging the earnestness of the political situation that he and other German Jews were confront . “ I am doing quite well , in spitefulness of all the anti - Semites among my German colleagues , ” he insure Maja . " Here are brew economically and politically dark times , so I ’m happy to be able to get away from everything for half a year , ” he wrote , alluding to his upcoming six - month stumble to Asia , during which he would learn that he had won the Nobel Prize . He was right — Adolf Hitler’sfailed coupin Bavaria would take place the next year , in November 1923 .
Einstein goes on to say “ Do n’t worry about me , I myself do n’t worry either , even if it ’s not quite kosher ; people are very upset . In Italy , it seems to be at least as risky , by the way . "
After hisAsian duty tour , he returned to Germany before specify out on new travel , including a tour of the United States . He was in the U.S. when Adolf Hitler became Germany ’s premier , and decided to renounce his German citizenship . He finally settled in Princeton , New Jersey .
See the full details of the letter at the Kedem Auction House’swebsite .
[ h / tLive Science ]
