Carl Cohen (mathematician)

Carl Cohen was a German Jew, anti-Nazi, and mathematician who immigrated from Germany to America during World War II. He was a math instructor at Harvard University and taught at other universities such as Tufts University and Cambridge Junior College.^[1]

Life

Carl Cohen grew up in Germany. After Hitler came to power, Cohen began to publish anti-Nazi material. He was arrested fifteen times and eventually taken to a concentration camp in Frankfurt where he spent six weeks.^{[citation needed]}

Journey to America

Cohen was offered teaching positions at different universities across the world, and he was released from prison on conditions that he emigrate from Germany immediately. A friend helped him obtain a fake visa for Latin America which allowed him to leave Germany. He first went to Holland for a short period of time, then traveled on to England where he was reunited with his wife. They were only allowed to enter England on conditions that they emigrate shortly after to a different country. Cohen got a job in England to earn some money. He was only able to get a job if it could be proven that no other Englishman wanted the job. Cohen and his wife applied to the United States consulate while they were in Germany and were told their number might be called in three or four years. While in England, Cohen visited the consulate in London and was finally granted a visa to America.^[1]

Cohen and his wife came by boat to America in 1940. They landed in Boston and were detained while they awaited their sentence hearing. Cohen's wife was paralyzed from the age of thirteen and was in a wheelchair. Due to immigration policy at the time, Cohen's wife was unable to enter the United States because she was disabled. They were told they would be deported. Cohen, however, protested this decision. For five weeks they waited in the East Boston Immigration Station, and eventually Cohen was paroled. In Boston, he worked as a custodian and later got a job teaching Hebrew. His wife was eventually allowed to enter the United States. Cohen would later study mathematics at Harvard University and became a teaching fellow of mathematics at the same university. Later on he would teach at Cambridge Junior College and Tufts University.^[1]

Carl Cohen's wife was unable to enter the United States for five weeks because she was paralyzed and came in a wheelchair.^[1]

Scholarship and immigration

The deportation of Jewish scholars from Germany during the Hitler regime resulted in great academic gains for America and Britain. This event is sometimes referred to as "brain-drain" or "human capital flight." Carl Cohen was a part of this movement as he was expelled from Germany and later became a professor at Harvard and other universities, where he blessed his students with his knowledge and talents. His success did not come easy, however.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Namias, June. First Generation: In the Words of Twentieth-century American Immigrants. Rev. ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1992.

This article "Carl Cohen (mathematician)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Carl Cohen (mathematician). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Namias, June. First Generation: In the Words of Twentieth-century American Immigrants. Rev. ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1992.

[1]