Chapter 1: The Unlikely Survivor

Otto Warburg was a remarkable biochemist renowned for his contributions to cancer research. On June 21, 1941, just before Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, he was called to meet with SS officials. Despite being a Jewish homosexual, Warburg had managed to carve out a rare position of privilege. He had previously banned the Nazi salute and flag from his institute and had refused to hire any Nazis.

At that time, Warburg was anxiously aware of the precariousness of his situation, especially since he belonged to a prominent Jewish family in finance. However, instead of facing punishment, the SS transferred him to another position, allowing him to continue his work uninterrupted. This was not the first time the regime had overlooked his status; previously, a Nazi official had questioned why he had not completed the Aryan declaration, but soon after, the society for science provided him with the supplies he needed.

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Section 1.1: The Privileged Position

Despite the oppressive environment, Warburg chose not to flee Germany, unlike many of his peers of Jewish descent. He was acutely aware that relocating would not guarantee him happiness; many scientists who had emigrated lost their reputations. Warburg was determined to retain his laboratory, filled with specialists he had trained, and his long-time assistant, who was also his partner. Nevertheless, the growing anti-Semitic climate could not be ignored, especially after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted, which stripped many Jews of their rights.

Warburg's mixed heritage made him a "Mischling," a term that indicated a person of mixed Aryan and Jewish descent, a classification that Hitler despised. In 1941, his meeting with the SS could have easily marked the end of his journey.

Subsection 1.1.1: The SS Meeting

The fact that the SS met with Warburg mere hours before Operation Barbarossa illustrates his significance. Reports suggest that Hitler himself intervened to safeguard Warburg due to his cancer research, which was of utmost importance to the regime. Hitler's personal obsession with cancer stemmed from the loss of his mother to the disease, and with cancer becoming a leading cause of death in Germany, Warburg's work aligned with the Nazis' interests.

Chapter 2: The Complexity of Ambition

Both Warburg and Hitler exhibited traits of narcissism, each driven by a desire for transformation—Warburg through scientific discovery and Hi