Karl Bechert, Physicist; Hid Jews From the Nazis Published: May
4, 1981 Dr. Karl Bechert, a physicist and educator who was a
professor at Giessen University in Germany during the Hitler
regime and remained a staunch anti-Nazi, died on April 1 in
Weilmunster, West Germany, it was reported yesterday. He was 80
years old. Dr. Bechert, who was raised a Lutheran, had refused
to join the Nazi party. He upset the party by promoting Jewish
colleagues in his department and later hiding Jewish co-workers
in his home. He also protected villagers against Nazis by hiding
them in the surrounding woods. He later served as a professor at
the University of Mainz. In 1951, he joined Dr. Victor Paschkis,
a professor-emeritus of Columbia University now living in
Pottstown, Pa., in founding the Society for Social
Responsibility in Science. The organization remained active for
a decade and its influence on scientists and engineers was said
to be widespread. He also took part in the Pugwash movement, a
major effort to unite scienti