Correspondence between <persName ref="http://d-nb.info/gnd/118509284"> Walter <choice> <abbr>A.</abbr> <expan>Arthur</expan> </choice> Berendsohn </persName> and the <roleName>Dean</roleName> of the <orgName ref="http://d-nb.info/gnd/5028264-5">Faculty of Philosophy</orgName> at the <orgName ref="http://d-nb.info/gnd/35534-3"> University of <placeName ref="http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7005289">Hamburg</placeName> </orgName>, turn of the year <date when="1954">1954</date> / <date when="1955">55</date> . Erwin Fink

Walter Berendsohn was stripped of his academic teaching license (the venia legendi) and of his doctoral degree after his emigration during the period of National Socialist persecution. In the postwar period, the University of Hamburg confirmed the continued validity of his venia legendi and he was officially readmitted to the teaching staff of the University. Berendsohn now sought to hold courses again. The Faculty, however, regarded the reinstatement of the exiled professor merely as a symbolic act of reparation. The correspondence reproduced here documents these differing perspectives. In the aftermath, neither a resumption of teaching activities nor a remigration of the scholar to Hamburg took place.

 Institute for the History of the German Jewsredaktion@juedische-geschichte-online.net
Beim Schlump 83, 20144 Hamburg

Hamburg State Archives, 361-6 I 3202 Walter Berendsohn

jgo:source-289 Der Fall Walter A. Berendsohn. Fortsetzung der Ausgrenzung an der Universität Hamburgjgo:article-299Walter A. Berendsohn / Dekan der Philosophischen FakultätBromma Kyrka20.12.1954, 03.01.1955, 08.01.1955Staatsarchiv HamburgStaatsarchiv Hamburg 361-6 IV 3202 Walter Berendsohn EnglishSource:Textdeu
Faculty Office Received: DEC. December 21, 1954 G. December 20, [19]54 To the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Professor Dr. Geißler University of Hamburg Dear Dean of Faculty!

It has been my wish for years to re-establish friendlyrelations with my university, where I taught from 1919 to 1933, as it was painful for me to pass by itwhen visiting my hometown of Hamburg. Your message at Christmas brought me hopethat it would soon be fulfilled.I had never even learned abroad that theUniversity of Kiel had withdrawn my doctorate.But since it happened, I immediately appliedto have this measure reversed. Igave two lectures in Kiel last springand consequently I hope that the matter will not cause any greatdifficulties there, all the less so as I am in contact withProfessor Dr. Wolfgang in scholarly correspondence.

When the venia legendiauthorization to teach at a university on completion of post-doctoral thesishas been reinstated,I will be able to make use of it to a very modestdegree only, as I am over 70 yearsold and I am still at the local university, theStockholm University, reading “German Literature.” I suggest

that in the summer semester of 1955, around the second half of May, I would announce a few lectures on Swedish literature, 4 (four)x at most. I leave the question of a possible honorarium entirely to the faculty. My main concern is to be in contact with German students and colleagues and thus subject my working method to some scrutiny.

As soon as the faculty gives me their approval regarding this proposal, we can determine the details, subject, days of the week, hours.

With the highest esteem Yours very sincerely, Walter A. Arthur Berendsohn x I mean 4 individual lectures overall, by no means four semester lectures!
January 3, 1955 Mr. Professor Walter A. Arthur Berendsohn Stramaljvägen 811 Bromma - Stockholm – Sweden – Dear Colleague!

Thank you for your letter dated December 20, 1954, which I am onlynow able to answer because of the Christmas holidays.Please allow me to tell you in all franknessand very personally the following.

The faculty, when deliberating on your venia legendiauthorization to teach at a university on completion of post-doctoral thesis, wasguided solely by the conviction that the political injusticeinflicted on you at the timemust be redressed under any circumstances.It has therefore decided to regard your venia legendiauthorization to teach at a university on completion of post-doctoral thesisas still valid. In doing so, the faculty has disregardedthe considerable reservations that have been raised againstyour academic work and that Ido not wish to detail here,on the assumption that, because of your stay in Sweden andbecause of your advanced age, you would be content with being listed in thecourse calendar and that you would no longer make actual use of your authorization to teach.

Since your letter shows that this assumption was erroneous, I consider myself obliged to inform you of the state of affairs and I would like to ask you very much to refrain from your plan so as not to conjure up an unpleasant situation for both sides. I will therefore not present your proposal to the faculty for the time being, insteadtreating it as confidential and awaiting your response.

b.w.please turn

With the request that you may receive this frank,personal letter as it is meant, I am

Yours very sincerely G. (Geißler)
Faculty Office Receipt: JAN. January 10, 1955 G. January 8, [19]55 To the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Professor Dr. Geißler Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 Hamburg 13 Dear Dean of Faculty!

On the basis of your communication, I waive theuse of the venia legendiauthorization to teach at a university on completion of post-doctoral thesisbut not the request for entryin the course calendar. It is very welcome to methat my proposal has given me the true opinion of the faculty.

Fortunately, my reputation as a researcher is not, either in Sweden, in the rest of the world, or even in Germany, dependent on the judgment of the Germanists at the Faculty of Philosophy in Hamburg.

Personally, I am indebted to youfor your frankness.

Yours very sincerely Walter A. Arthur Berendsohn Walter A. Arthur Berendsohn gen 811 Bromma-Stockholm Tel. Telephone 263169