Einstein’s Letter to Holocaust Survivor Set for Auction

As the shadow of Nazism spread across Europe, a desperate cry for help reached Albert Einstein. The letter, penned by a young German-Jewish woman named Mignon Lion, asked for guidance to escape Nazi persecution. Now, nearly 90 years later, Einstein’s poignant reply is heading to auction, offering a glimpse into a dark chapter of history and the famed physicist’s quiet efforts to save lives.

Lion, temporarily sheltered in France, reached out to Einstein not only as a towering figure of intellect but potentially as a distant relative. Her mother’s maiden name was also Einstein, suggesting a family link, however remote. But more than familial ties, it was Einstein’s own experience with Nazi terror that drew her to him.

In 1933, while visiting the United States, Einstein made the fateful decision not to return to Germany following Hitler’s rise to power. His own escape wound through Belgium and Britain before he found safe harbor at Princeton University, which offered him both a position and a haven.

By the time Lion reached out in May 1938, Einstein had become a prominent voice in America, advocating for Jews still trapped in Europe. His reply, written on his personal Princeton stationery, is not only a testament to his compassion but also to his realism.

Einstein refrained from offering false hope. Instead, he shared pragmatic advice, suggesting possible avenues for survival, including domestic service, nursery school teaching, nursing, and handicrafts. For Lion’s fiancé, he stressed the critical need to acquire a practical trade before attempting immigration.

But perhaps the most heartrending part of Einstein’s letter was his refusal to provide an affidavit documents often critical for obtaining American visas. He explained that he had already signed too many such letters, a stark reminder of the overwhelming need versus his limited ability to help.

Despite the obstacles, Lion and her fiancé managed to escape to Brazil. Her father also survived the Holocaust, eventually settling in New York City until his passing in 1964. Tragically, Lion’s mother did not survive, falling victim to Auschwitz in 1945, just months before the camp’s liberation.

The letter, a single page in German, along with its original envelope, is set to be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on February 27, with bidding starting at $5,000. This artifact serves not only as a relic of history but as a stark reminder of the countless lives at the mercy of fate during those harrowing years.

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