Albert Einstein's immigration papers turn up 80 years after he fled to Britain from Nazi Germany

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 11:45 AM on 9th May 2011

Immigration papers from when Albert Einstein dramatically fled Nazi Germany have been discovered after being unknowingly stored away for almost 80 years.

Border chiefs at Heathrow airport were left stunned by the discovery of the landing card, which marks the legendary scientist’s arrival in the UK.

Einstein was Jewish and escaped to England with a bounty on his head as an enemy of Adolf Hitler’s regime.

According to the smudged document, the ‘father of modern physics’ arrived at Dover on May 26,1933 from Ostende, Belgium.

He describes his occupation as a professor and being of Swiss nationality.On the reverse the German-born scientist states to Immigration officers he is bound for Oxford.

And now the major historical find will go on display in Liverpool’s Merseyside Maritime Museum after it was snapped up by curators.

Assistant curator Lucy Gardner said they were stunned when they made the discovery.

She 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.’

Einstein was kept under armed protection while in England after the Nazis wanted him killed. The Nobel Prize winner held the esteemed position of professor at the Prussian Academy of Science in Berlin from 1914.

But when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 Jewish people were persecuted.

The Nazi leader announced a ‘Boycott of Jews’ day that year and ordered the burning of books which included Einstein’s.

Einstein sought safety in Britain for several months in 1933 but eventually settled in America. The immigration papers will be on display from Tuesday May 10 in the UK Border Agency’s national museum.

[Source Dailymail]