In a harrowing chapter of history, the story of Robert Einstein, Albert Einstein’s cousin, unfolds against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Europe. While Albert Einstein achieved global fame for his groundbreaking theories, including a pivotal paper on relativity and a Nobel Prize awarded in 1922, his cousin’s life took a tragic turn as the Holocaust unfolded. The harsh realities of war and persecution forced the disintegration of Robert’s family, the threads of hope replaced by sadness and tragedy.
Robert Einstein, who had lived in Italy with his family, began to see increasing threats as anti-Semitic laws spread throughout Europe. His family’s situation became dire when they were forced to close their medical practice due to restrictions that barred Jews from practicing medicine. This closure was a huge blow to their livelihood. It illuminated the broader challenges experienced by Jewish communities throughout this dark period.
As the Nazi regime tightened its stranglehold, Robert’s family was forced to abandon their family home, seeking refuge wherever they could. They found sanctuary first in a villa named Il Focardo. There, they thought they could be safe from the terrors of their everyday life. Instead, their lot took a turn for the worse as authorities arrested them, forcing them into concentration camps. The unremitting march of anti-Semitism had not spared a single family, and the Einsteins were not immune.
Albert Einstein had returned to Germany briefly during this turmoil, navigating his own challenges while striving to support the U.S. military efforts against the Axis powers. For all his accomplishments and power, he was never far from a gut-wrenching fear for the fate of his cousins. He supplied key intelligence to US military officials which saved countless American troops. For the war crimes investigator, who first told him the sad truth about Robert’s family’s fate.
In a perverse stroke of fate, when Albert finally got wind of things, he learned that Robert’s entire family had been killed in Italy. The impact on him represented the deeply personal, human cost of the terrible things happening in Europe. That ancestral, cultural connection to one another as cousins — upheld by heritage and tradition, ingenuity and wisdom — was forcefully obliterated by the harsh truth of war.
Mussolini’s invitation for Albert Einstein to visit Florence made the famous scientist’s relationship with Italy more profound. This invitation underscored the fraught political landscape of that time period. In spite of this enticing invitation, Albert’s energies were still directed toward making the case for peace and helping those who endured the brunt of Nazi tyranny.
Albert’s life would be forever changed by the tragic loss of Robert and his family. In expressing his gratitude to those who aided him during his struggles, he wrote, “Clasping your hand in sincere gratitude, A Einstein.” He is absolutely, positively grateful for all the support he has gotten so far. At the same time, he is heartbroken for those who never made it out of the clutches of hate and violence.