Stateless

"The Road to Freedom"

An exhibition prepared by Verein Aktives Museum sheds light on the German scientists and experts who arrived in Turkey from Germany and Austria in 1933. Sponsored by the Turkish-German Businessmen's Cultural Foundation, Goethe Institut Istanbul, and Orient Institut Istanbul, the exhibition is being held at the Milli Reasürans Art Gallery from June 5 to June 30, 2007. A book has also been prepared for the exhibition.

The exhibition focuses on German scientists and experts who lost their working opportunities in Germany in 1933 due to the Nazis coming to power, resulting in their forced departure and relocation to Turkey. They are remembered for their contributions to the reorganization of the public sphere in the young Turkish Republic, especially in the establishment of the modern education system, primarily universities. The "1933 University Reform" is particularly emphasized in evaluating their impact.

Can this extraordinary event, which began before World War II and continued until its end, be simply interpreted within the scope of a "refuge" action, such as "Turkey opening its doors to these distinguished individuals forced to leave their homelands"? In his introductory essay, Murat Katoğlu seeks answers to this question and states: "The phenomenon of asylum occurs due to necessities, the unbearable economic, social, and political conditions people face in their places of residence. We are aware of the dramatic political atmosphere in 1930s Germany, compelling many to seek asylum. However, we also know that the collective arrival of numerous intellectuals and professional experts in Turkey was driven by factors beyond German causes. It can even be said that, as much as the reasons originating from Germany, the social and cultural developments in Turkey also determined this extensive movement of intellectual manpower. Asylum is often an act resulting from one-sided needs and human will. In the arrival of German professors, artists, and experts to Turkey in 1933, the crucial element is the mutual 'dependency,' determinant of the event. In other words, we need to perceive this event not only as a common 'asylum' movement but also as something entirely different in meaning and scope, considering the necessity for qualified human resources in Turkey during the same period to implement the radical social and cultural innovation programs."

Described by Murat Katoğlu as a "dramatic and intellectual encounter," this extraordinary event, taking place during a period when the world was preparing for the Second World War and the young Turkish Republic was making remarkable strides toward modernization, holds noteworthy features as a constructive example in the history of relations between Turkey and Europe.