German universities under the Nazis The takeover of public life in Germany began after Hitler's 'Ermaechtigungsgesetz', or enabling law, which declared that there was a state of emergency, and that therefore the government required emergency powers. The law was passed on 23 March 1933; as many as 90 MPs courageously voted against it, no doubt at serious personal cost to themselves. The Nazis imposed a policy of 'Gleichschaltung' (co-ordination), by which a system of totalitarian control and coordination was extended over all aspects of German society, universities included. The regime imposed changes to the regulations of educational institutions. Universities, no matter whether organized publicly or privately, had to align without being given the opportunity to protest or dissent. On 11 November 1933, scholars of all disciplines had to sign a ‘vow of allegiance of the professors of the German universities and high-schools to Adolf Hitler and the National-Socialis...