爱因斯坦的德国国籍探微

On Einstein's German Nationality

尽管内心深处不认同自己的德国籍,在获得诺贝尔奖之前,爱因斯坦的国籍问题并没有给他带来实质性的麻烦。但当他1922年获得了1921年度的诺贝尔物理学奖后,情况就变得复杂了。虽然诺贝尔奖表彰的是个人成就,但公众与官方都将其看作一种国家荣誉。这样一来,爱因斯坦国籍问题最后演变成一场外交风波,爱因斯坦被迫卷入其中。利用爱因斯坦来为德国争光,是主导这场喧嚣外交风波的背后因素。令人唏嘘的是,随着德国在1926年加入国联,德国科学界重回国际科学大家庭,德国当局对待爱因斯坦的态度又发生了实质性的变化,最后演变为将其驱逐出境。爱因斯坦的德国国籍曾给他带来过些许便利,但更多地是困扰甚至羞耻。只有坚持科学国际主义,创造条件让科学家发挥自己的创造天性,才能为人类发展、世界和平作出贡献。

Although from his heart he did not identify with his German citizenship,the issue of Einstein's nationality did not cause him any substantial problems until he received the Nobel Prize.But when he won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922,the situation became much complicated.Although the Nobel Prize honors individual achievement,the public and the government officials saw it as a national honor.In this way,the issue of Einstein's nationality eventually turned into a diplomatic storm in which Einstein was forced to become involved.The use of Einstein to gain glory for Germany was the factor behind the noisy diplomatic storm.Sadly,as Germany joined the League of Nations in 1926 and the Germans rejoined the international scientific communities,the attitude of the German authorities toward Einstein changed substantially,culminating in his deportation.Einstein's German citizenship had brought him some convenience,but more than that,it was a source of distress and even shame.Only by adhering to scientific internationalism and creating conditions for scientists to give full play to their creative nature can we contribute to human development and world peace.