This book reconstructs the forgotten life and work of the Jewish scholar Leopold Silberstein (1900 - 1941). In his short life, Silberstein published over 100 works on Slavic studies, philosophy, and sociology. His philosophical views were shaped by the exposure of racial theories. After studying and conducting initial research in Berlin, Silberstein emigrated to Prague in 1933 to escape the terror of the Nazis. Although he was unable to obtain a work permit as a foreigner, he managed to secure a position as a lecturer in Czech at the University of Tartu. In 1941, he was murdered there by fascists because he was Jewish. The reader is introduced to the world of Berlin Slavic scholars before 1933, the rich academic life in Prague with the Prague Linguistic Circle and other societies, the scholarly circles at the University of Tartu, and ultimately the horrific Holocaust in Estonia. Through numerous original documents, Leopold Silberstein comes to life again as a scholar, friend, and family man.

Konrad Herrmann, Dr. Ing., born in 1945, studied mechanical engineering and sinology and worked as a measurement technician at the National Metrology Institute. He translated various works of classical and contemporary Chinese literature. In recent years, he has researched the life of the Jewish Slavic scholar Leopold Silberstein.