Laue & Franck had their medals dissolved in aqua regia to save them from Nazis

  • Thread starter fourier jr
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Laue
In summary, during World War II, Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy dissolved the gold Nobel Prizes of Max von Laue and James Franck in aqua regia to prevent them from being stolen by Nazi Germany. After the war, he was able to retrieve the gold from the solution and the Nobel Society re-cast the prizes using the original gold. This story is recounted in "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes, which also delves into the history of physics during the early 20th century.
  • #1
fourier jr
765
13
this is one of the coolest stories I've read in a while. it's so cool it's got to be true :-p
When Nazi Germany invaded Denmark in World War II, the Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy dissolved the gold Nobel Prizes of von Laue and James Franck in aqua regia to prevent the Nazis from stealing them. He placed the resulting solution on a shelf in his laboratory at the Niels Bohr Institute. After the war, he returned to find the solution undisturbed and precipitated the gold out of the acid. The Nobel Society then re–cast the Nobel Prizes using the original gold.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_von_Laue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Franck
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
that is pretty cool.
 
  • #3
Yes, it is a true story.
You can read more about it in e.g. "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes (which also describes the development of physics during the first three decades of the 20th century).
 

FAQ: Laue & Franck had their medals dissolved in aqua regia to save them from Nazis

Why were Laue & Franck's medals dissolved in aqua regia?

Laue & Franck's medals were dissolved in aqua regia in order to protect them from the Nazis during World War II. This was a common practice among scientists and intellectuals who feared persecution and confiscation of their valuable possessions by the Nazi regime.

What is aqua regia and why was it used?

Aqua regia is a highly corrosive mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It was used to dissolve Laue & Franck's medals because it is able to dissolve most metals, including gold, which their medals were made of.

Did Laue & Franck's strategy of dissolving their medals work?

Yes, dissolving their medals in aqua regia was successful in protecting them from the Nazis. The dissolved medals were then stored in a safe place and were later reconstructed and returned to their owners after the war ended.

Did other scientists also use this method to protect their valuable possessions during the war?

Yes, many other scientists and intellectuals used this method to protect their valuable possessions, including medals, trophies, and scientific equipment. It was a common strategy for those who feared persecution or confiscation by the Nazis.

Are Laue & Franck's dissolved medals still in existence today?

Yes, the reconstructed medals are still in existence today and are considered valuable pieces of history. They serve as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of scientists during the Nazi regime and their determination to protect their achievements and contributions to science.

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top