Albert Einstein (left) became an American citizen on October 1, 1940

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Albert Einstein

1 - Albert Einstein was a famous physicist. He was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm. As a child and teenager, he lived in Munich, Milan and Switzerland. From 1896, he studied in Zurich.


2 - In 1905, Einstein published several scientific papers that established his worldwide fame. In his “Special Theory of Relativity,” for example, he demonstrated that time can pass faster or slower, depending on the speed at which the observer is moving.3 - This man’s discoveries advanced our understanding of how the universe is structured and the forces at work within it. However, they are very complicated, and few people can truly understand them. Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.4 - From 1914 to 1932, he lived and worked in Berlin. He taught at the University of Berlin, one of the most renowned universities of its time. It was founded by Wilhelm von Humboldt. Another famous scientist, Max Planck, had recruited Einstein to work in Berlin. Einstein enjoyed the area around Berlin and eventually had a summer house built in Caputh, just about 40 kilometers from Berlin. 5 - On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed German Chancellor. Einstein had opposed Hitler and National Socialism early on, together with others. In the autumn of 1932, the famous scientist and his wife set off on a trip to the United States. After Hitler came to power, Einstein never returned to Germany. He cut off all contact and left his house in Caputh behind.6 - German authorities searched his homes and revoked his German citizenship. His writings were publicly burned. His name appeared on lists of “enemies of the German nation.” The house in Caputh was confiscated.7 - The only reason: Albert Einstein was Jewish. By emigrating to the United States, he escaped further persecution. In the following years, the Nazis intensified their persecution of Jews in Germany and later throughout Europe. On November 9, 1938, synagogues, homes and businesses belonging to Jewish citizens were destroyed.8 - In 1939, Hitler and his followers plunged Germany into the terrible Second World War. When the war ended in May 1945, Germany had been defeated and completely devastated. Millions of people had lost their lives in Europe, including around six million Jews who had been murdered in concentration and extermination camps.

9 - Albert Einstein became a US citizen in October 1940. He died on April 18, 1955.


Find out:

  1. In which city was Albert Einstein born?
  2. Where did he live as a child and teenager?
  3. What is the name of the famous theory developed by Albert Einstein?
  4. At which university did Einstein teach and conduct research from 1914 to 1932?
  5. What famous prize did he receive in 1921?
  6. In which small town did he have a summer house built?
  7. Why did Einstein leave Germany?
  8. What happened to his writings and his wealth?
  9. Which country did he emigrate to?
  10. When did Albert Einstein die?