German pathology professor Philipp Schwartz: His enduring life from Frankfurt to Istanbul during the Second World War era: A “forgotten savior”

Abstract

Many scientists were forced to leave Germany mostly under challenging circumstances as a result of the pressure applied to anti-Nazi German scientists and artists (mostly from the medical field) who were or were not of Jewish origin before World War II. They emigrated primarily to the United States, Switzerland, Turkey and South America. Two eminent pathology professors, namely Prof. Philipp Schwartz (from Frankfurt) and Prof. Sigfried Oberndorfer (from Munich) came to Istanbul University. They regarded Turkey as their second homeland. They were obliged to leave Germany due to mounting pressure. Schwartz settled in his father-in-law's house in Zurich. Schwartz was an organizer. He established the “Emergency Society of German Scholars Abroad” (Notgemeinschaft) to gather German scientists and artists in his situation. During the same period, the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wanted to apply reforms at Istanbul University to make it attain a Western structure. He invited Swiss pedagogue Prof. Malche and asked him to prepare a report for this purpose. Malche highlighted the need for Western experts is advised. Contact was made with Schwartz's organization in Switzerland. Numerous scientists specialized in almost all fields of science starting with medicine as well as many artists came to Istanbul University and other public institutions. Schwartz established the Pathology Department at Istanbul University while Prof. Oberndorfer established the Department of Experimental Pathology at the same university.Schwartz enabled pathology to gain a contemporary identity in Turkey. Pathology was mostly focused on autopsy during those years. Schwartz attached importance to the pathology training of medical students. He initiated clinico-pathology classes and encouraged surgeons to take a biopsy for surgical pathology. He produced numerous publications. Schwartz worked in Turkey for 19 years and then moved to the US. Thus, a generation of pathologists following the footsteps of Schwartz was raised in Turkey. Frankfurt University, in which he was obliged to leave, erected a stele in his memory at the entrance of the main hospital building. Schwartz thus became an unforgotten savior.