NAZI CONDOLENCE SUBJECT OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY OU PROFESSOR

NORMAN – When a professor cites Harvard College or Columbia University in his research, one would assume it is in positive reference to one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. However, one professor at the University of Oklahoma has gained national and international attention for his research that indicates that the administrations of those elite schools acted irresponsibly in the face of the Nazi threat and remained largely indifferent to Nazi anti-Semitic outrages.

The College of Arts and Sciences Department of History’s Stephen Norwood is nearing completion of his book that delves into the questionable record of elite American universities’ response to Nazis during World War II.

“Elite colleges had more influence at this time than others did, and administrators are people of extraordinary influence,” Norwood said. “There was a regular flow of news in this country covering what was happening in Germany, leaving no excuse for the actions of people in American higher education at this time.”

His research pinpoints incidents at these institutions in which leaders not only ignored the actions of some top Nazi officials, but even welcomed them, treating them as celebrities on the university campuses.

“Very early on, people knew of the outrages and barbarism of the Nazis, as it was widely reported in the American press,” Norwood said. “So it’s particularly striking that officials at institutions of higher learning would not take a principled stand. In fact, they engaged in actions that allowed Nazis to enhance their prestige in the West.”

Norwood’s interest in the topic stemmed from stories told by his father and grandmother of protests in Boston when a top Nazi official arrived on the Cambridge campus in 1934. Hitler’s foreign press secretary, Ernst Hanfstaengl, had returned to Harvard to celebrate his 25th reunion. Harvard’s student newspaper The Crimson published an editorial in support of Hanfstaengl’s presence, even going so far as to recommend he be given an honorary degree. However, while Hanfstaengl enjoyed tea with Harvard President James Conant, anti-Nazi protesters were arrested.

“We have elite figures, Harvard alumni, many of America’s leading industrialists, financiers and educators, who are welcoming a top Nazi leader, being photographed in Boston’s newspapers with Hanfstaengl at Harvard, delighted to be seen with him,” Norwood said.

Norwood first presented his research concerning Harvard’s troubling ties to the Nazis at a conference in 2004 hosted by the David S. Wyman Institute of Holocaust Studies. Though the delegation had offered to let then Harvard President Lawrence Summers host the conference, he declined. When it was instead put on only a few miles away at Boston University, Summers and all other members of his administration refused to attend, even questioning the validity of Norwood’s research.

“It was an interesting attitude to see in the leaders of what considers itself the top institution of higher learning,” Norwood said. “You would think they would be committed to searching for the truth rather than just protecting their reputation at all cost.”

Most recently, Norwood’s research has uncovered instances of the same types of “Nazi-friendly” behavior at Columbia University. Norwood, who received his doctoral degree in history at the New York City institution, was featured on Nov. 6 in the New York Post and on a CBS syndicated news program in the city. Norwood stated that in 1933, then Columbia President Nicholas Murray Butler was responsible for holding an on-campus reception for German Ambassador Hans Luther, despite notable student protest.

Norwood also noted that in 1936 Butler sent a prominent professor to serve as a representative of Columbia at the celebration of Germany’s Nazified Heidelberg University’s 550th anniversary.

“We have to question what kind of ties were established between American and German institutions in this period and what kind of cultural exchanges took place, and what legitimacy this gave to the Nazi regime.”

More than simply delivering the facts of this time, Norwood hopes that his research on this topic will lead to education and a deepened awareness of America’s role in this part of history.

“I think OU has had more in terms of Holocaust education than Harvard. The office of President Boren has given me money to bring David Wyman, Steven Katz, Yehuda Bauer, Sir Martin Gilbert and Daniel Goldhagen. ... Every time the funding has been provided by the president for me to bring a Holocaust scholar, there has been a huge attendance. Hundreds come out for the lectures.”

And while the findings of Holocaust scholars have appealed to diverse audiences at the University of Oklahoma, Norwood’s ultimate goal is that people will proceed beyond interest to involvement.

“It’s important to have some acknowledgement that mistakes were made. Just because some people are wealthy and occupy positions of authority, they are not excused from being criticized when they are shown to display insensitivity and lack of responsibility."