“With cold ferocity and ostentatious prejudice”: Persecution at the University and Polytechnic of Turin

Abstract

“With cold ferocity and ostentatious prejudice”, a quote from Primo Levi, a student of “Jewish race” at the University of Turin, which, in essence, presents the violence and the absolute unreasonableness of the measures undertaken in 1938 to expel Jews – professors, students, technical and administrative personnel – from the University and the Polytechnic of Turin. To recount the inflicted wounds, even in percentage terms, on the entire academic community, the diligent obedience of the institutions and their representatives, the "silent" reaction of those who witnessed the immediate and irrevocable expulsion of their colleagues, the difficult and postponed return or non-return of professors who were victims of the persecution once the war was over.