I N T R O D U C T I O N T O V O L U M E 1 4 x l v Anschütz and his colleagues at the Kiel company had continued to develop the gy- rocompass, and had kept Einstein apprised of their results. Damping problems had arisen in April 1923 (Doc. 8), and, in December, a correlation was observed be- tween the oscillation period of the compass and the intensity of the current in the blow-out magnet, for whose solution Einstein made a brief proposal (Doc. 184). In June 1923, Einstein appeared for the last time as a court expert in a patent case when Anschütz-Kaempfe sued the Borck & Goldschmidt factory (Abs. 90). III Since 1919, with his rising visibility and fame in Germany, Einstein had at various times become the center of controversies and personal attacks. His departure for the Far East in October 1922 had in part been motivated by the precarious political sit- uation in the wake of Walther Rathenau’s assassination, and possible dangers to his own safety (see Vol. 13, Introduction). By the time of his return, Einstein, at least outwardly, thought “there was hardly a case to be made for a personal threat any longer” (Doc. 11), and turned down offers for professorships in the United States and Italy that had been extended in reaction to earlier reports that he intended to leave Germany. Yet, a few months later, at a time of hyperinflation, he voiced concerns about the future. To his wife Elsa Einstein he confided in September 1923 that “everything is being called into question. One entertains grave fears.” Troubled by “the anticipat- ed personal insecurity,” he jokingly recommended that she hide her silver “in the event that it is searched for” (Doc. 118). Later that month he voiced a greater sense of unease. Writing to his secretary, Betty Neumann, he feared “something ap- proaching with giant steps but one doesn’t know exactly what” (Doc. 121). Six weeks later, Einstein’s premonition of a pending threat seemed to be vindicated. The first mention in Einstein’s correspondence of events that would lead to his abrupt flight to Leyden in the Netherlands appeared on 5 November 1923: “Here things are getting difficult and one does not know what surprises the next hours will provide,” he wrote to Ehrenfest from Berlin (Doc. 137). Following a steep rise in bread prices and accusations that Jewish profiteers were exploiting the unemployed, widespread food riots, looting, and violent anti-Semitic attacks erupt- ed that day in the capital. There were also rumors of a right-wing putsch and of alleged specific threats against Einstein’s life.[17] After two days of street turmoil in Berlin, Einstein hastily announced to Betty Neumann his sudden departure on 7 November (Doc. 140).[18] Deeply perturbed by the latest events, he now intended to emigrate to the United