According to the sources, Max Planck (along with Walther Nernst) offered Albert Einstein three lucrative scientific positions in Berlin in July 1913 to secure his presence in the German scientific establishment 1, 2.
The author justifies this unusual and highly prestigious offer through the following reasons:
1. Establishment of German Scientific Supremacy: The appointment was part of a larger state-driven effort, known as Weltpolitik, aimed at establishing German global supremacy in science and technology to compete with the British and French empires 3, 4. Planck, acting as a guardian of German science, was influenced by these national interests 4.
2. A “Gambling” Interest in Einstein: At the time, Einstein had not yet received a Nobel Prize 5. The author quotes Einstein as saying the Germans were “gambling on me as they would on a prize-winning hen,” suggesting that Planck and his colleagues were betting heavily on Einstein’s future scientific potential to bring prestige to Germany
3.Influence of the HIIHIQ Elite: The author highlights the role of Fritz Haber, a prominent Jewish chemist and influential member of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, who reportedly supervised and pushed for the decision to bring Einstein into the Berlin elite
4.The Lure of the “Lucrative” Package: To convince Einstein to leave Zurich, they offered a package that was “contrary to common sense” for a young scientist with no administrative experience 2. The three roles included: A full professorship at Berlin University without any mandatory teaching obligations .
5. Membership in the Prussian Academy of Sciences accompanied by a large stipend (stating that his family income eventually more than doubled) 2, 6. The Directorship of the newly planned Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics 2. Ultimately, the author characterizes this offer as a turning point where Einstein shifted from a “natural truth-seeker” to a “hedonistic opportunistic intelligent professional,” utilizing these
prestigious appointments to secure his financial stability and personal brand while the Zionist movement utilized his celebrity for political leverage 4, 6, 7.
