Page 211 - Neutrons for Sciences and Society

both been murdered at Auschwitz. They themselves only just avoided deportation. They knew and they appreciated the culture of Germany and refused to associate Nazism with Germany. Both worked after the war on Franco-German cooperation. This attitude contrasted with what prevailed after the wars of 1870 and 1914- 18 when ideas of revenge and penance were dominant. De Gaulle too knew that German culture was incompatible with Nazism;
he sealed the reconciliation between France and Germany with Konrad Adenauer. This has certainly been instrumental in the solidarity and even friendship now existing between the two countries. French public opinion, and that of scientists, often remained suspicious. At the ILL the role of Maier-Leibnitz and
his wife was crucial in dispelling this unease. His charisma helped here. I remember a meeting at the beginning of the ILL which
was held in Saint Nizier in a hotel which had been completely razed during the elimination of the Vercors maquis by the German army. The owner was basically reluctant to welcome us. After seeing Maier-Leibnitz his reluctance dissolved and we had
many meetings in this hotel (which served an excellent gratin dauphinois). The relations between Maier-Leibnitz and Dautray were really friendly, as were mine.
I hardly ever had conversations with Maier-Leibnitz on the war and the preceding period. It was as if his scientific life had started in Munich. I have learned the facts about these difficult times reading his biography “Ein halbes Jahrhundert experimentelle Physik”. However in a book of three hundred pages less than sixty pages are used to describe his pre-Munich period (1929-1952). I think that this discretion demonstrates his modesty.
202
Conclusion - An appraisal