The Laughs are on Hitler: Europe’s Exiled Scholars are Finding Opportunity to Help Adopted Country

This article describes some of the European émigré scholars that came to New York’s New School for Social Research as part of the so-called University-in-Exile. The New School provided a safe haven for a number of European intellectuals who would not only aid the war effort, as is discussed in this article, but also deepen the ties between academic traditions in Europe and America. The diverse group of Europeans invited to join the faculty at the University-in-Exile included political scientists, economists, sociologists, and even professors of theater and dance.

“Little groups for democracy are collecting in spots all over the world. But certainly the headquarters here, on West 12^th street, just off Fifth avenue, must be unique. In two buildings are collected 83 men who represent the best brains of Europe. . . . They earn their livings as teachers in the new school for social research. . . But in their off hours they helped lay the plans for the invasion of Africa. They’re smoothing the way for the invasion of Europe. Their knowledge of Europe is being used in post-war plans.”

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Arne, Sigrid. "The Laughs are on Hitler: Europe’s Exiled Scholars are Finding Opportunity to Help Adopted Country." The St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 1, 1943, p. 109.