History Extra podcast The Einstein murders
10 snips
May 18, 2025 
Thomas Harding, bestselling author of The Einstein Vendetta, explores the harrowing story of his family during WWII. He details the tragic fate of Robert Einstein, cousin to Albert, highlighting the brutal realities faced by Jewish families amidst Nazi oppression. The conversation dives into the crimes committed against Robert's family, the long struggles for justice, and the disturbing historical negligence by authorities. Harding connects this dark legacy to modern issues, emphasizing the need to remember the humanity of victims beyond their tragic fates.
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Robert Einstein's Family History
- Robert Einstein lived first 11 years with Albert Einstein in Munich before family moved to Italy for a new electrification business.
- He married Nina, had two daughters, and later adopted twins, forming a large family in Rome and a country house near Florence.
Shift in Mussolini's Policies
- Italian Jews initially faced less systemic persecution until Mussolini allied with Hitler in the late 1930s.
- Mussolini then enacted racial laws mirroring Nuremberg laws, impacting Jews like Robert Einstein and his family.
The Nazi Attack on Einstein Family
- In summer 1944, as Germans retreated, soldiers hunted Robert Einstein specifically at his remote villa.
- When Robert was in hiding, they held his family hostage and ultimately murdered his wife and daughters.
