Starting in 1933 Turkish Republic formally offered university positions to German-Jewish academics who lost their jobs with the coming to power of the National Socialist Government, They were initially on renewable short term contracts at Turkish academic institutions largely in Istanbul and Ankara.

Ths Turkish Government offered them high salaries (five times the level of their Turkish colleagues) to implement the Westernization program of higher education in the wake of extensive social reforms in the ten year old secular Turkish republic. These reforms also included the adoption of the Latin alphabet and the right to vote as well as equal opportunities for women.

The number of the scientists, physicians, engineers, architects, musicians and artists rose from an initial 30, then a further 40 (facilitated by a letter of appeal by Einstein ) to more than one hundred and ninety-nine. The number would be much higher if their dependents and families were included.

The present paper will examine the contribution they made to the scientific and cultural development of the new Republic. It will also examine the resulting identity problems encountered by the refugees, who were confronted with their German identity.