{"id":11601,"date":"2026-05-20T11:55:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T09:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hias-hamburg.de\/?post_type=events&p=11601"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:28:37","slug":"the-tragic-story-of-hedwig-klein","status":"publish","type":"events","link":"https:\/\/hias-hamburg.de\/en\/events\/the-tragic-story-of-hedwig-klein\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholar of Islam, Victim of the Holocaust. The Tragic Story of Hedwig Klein"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hedwig Klein (1911\u20131942) was a brilliant scholar of Islamic studies whose life and career were tragically ended by the Holocaust. Born in Antwerp and raised in Hamburg, Klein distinguished herself through outstanding academic achievements and received top marks in 1937 for her dissertation on Ibadite Oman at the University of Hamburg. As a Jew, however, she was denied her doctorate. After a failed attempt to flee to India in 1939, Klein was stranded in Hamburg when World War II broke out. She briefly collaborated on a project to compile a dictionary of modern Arabic before being deported to Auschwitz in 1942, where she was murdered. This study draws on extensive archival materials to reconstruct Klein\u2019s biography\u2014particularly for the years 1937 to 1942. Furthermore, it examines her involvement in Hans Wehr\u2019s Arabic Dictionary as well as the controversies surrounding its alleged ties to Nazi propaganda. By shedding light on Klein\u2019s life and work, the study aims to honor her memory and correct misconceptions about her scholarly work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabine Schmidtke <\/a><\/strong>is a professor of the History of Islamic Philosophy at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, USA, and an alumna of the Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study. In 1938, the publisher Walter de Gruyter refused to publish Hedwig Klein\u2019s dissertation because she was Jewish. Now Sabine Schmidtke\u2019s latest book, Scholar of Islam, Victim of the Holocaust: The Tragic Story of Hedwig Klein<\/em>, is being published by De Gruyter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rainer Nicolaysen<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Center of the History of the University of Hamburg
Nora Derbal<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Islamic Studies, University of Hamburg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sonja Gr\u00e4ber-Magocsi<\/a> \u2013 Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Asien-Afrika-Institut,<\/a><\/strong> Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Esa Ost, R. 221<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To register for participation, please email event@hias-hamburg.de.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In cooperation with<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Asia Africa Institute
Middle East<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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