The Art of Resistance: Defending Academic Freedom since 1933 | Page 92

“It’s natural that your husbands do not order machines from Germany for their factories; but you must not buy any Odol mouthwash or other toilet or domestic things!” Her Christian landlady said to her with reference to Hitler: “And there is nobody who kills this big swine?” People say we are ruled by madmen, are completely bankrupt – it cannot last much longer. Nothing has changed in the meantime; the power of the Third Reich has only grown even larger and more secure. 12th June, 1936 Isakowitz was with us – for the last time – yesterday evening. 28th June, 1936 Isakowitz finally took his leave of us on Thursday evening; he was very tired and nervous – a new table cloth suffered the consequences, in a single movement he poured a whole cup of coffee over it – but nonetheless in high spirits. Because at 45 years of age he is once again making a new start, because he is moving from servitude and lawlessness to human and civilised conditions. Yet it was visibly hard for him to leave Germany. He philosophised a great deal and talked about art, with somewhat limited knowledge and clarity but with much interest and an evident moral foundation. I heard with satisfaction that despite the ‘customs examination’ he has still managed to get some property safely abroad, and that other émigrés evidently also repeatedly find opportunities to do so. 1st Jul, 1938 Frau Shaps writes of her children settling down in London and of contact made with Isakowitz the dentist. All these people have made new lives for themselves – but I have not succeeded in doing so, we have been left in disgrace and penury, in some degree buried alive, buried up to the neck so to speak and waiting from day to day for the last shovelfuls. P ostscripts to 1935 In the course of this year we won as new noted down friends the Isakowitz family. That has 1st January, 1936 turned into a really warm friendship with the father, mother and daughter. They will probably emigrate to England and that would be a real loss for us. 1 1th February, 1936 Last Sunday the Isakowitzes were our guests in the evening. The man is much worn down by worry and uncertainty; despite his despair he told terribly smutty jokes, he himself said: “Out of despair”. 6th March, 1936 Isakowitz informed me by telephone that he has permission to practise in England and wants to leave in April. We shall soon be quite alone. 5th April, 1936 Last Sunday the Isakowitzes, man and wife were here; ready to depart for London, very nervous and low in spirit. 90 30th May, 1936 The Isakowitzes’ farewell visit last Sunday was fairly depressing, and the leave-taking today at the station very depressing. It was from the women; over Whitsun the family is staying with relatives in Landeck, while he is returning to his surgery for one more week, will also complete Eva’s treatment; mother and daughter are travelling to London via Berlin. The day before yesterday I fetched flowers, which have been left to us from their liquidated apartment. A repetition of the Blumenfeld’s departure. The Art of Resistance? Defending Academic Freedom 91