Charlotte Wolff

Unfortunately for Charlotte and other Jews in Germany, the growing Nazi Party fanned the flames of antisemitism by blaming Jews for all of Germany’s social, political, and economic problems. In the spring of 1931, someone told Charlotte that she needed to end her work at the Clinic for Family Planning and Pregnancy Care for her own safety. She could not afford to remain unemployed, and in April 1932, she got a new job as director of the Electro-Physical Institute in Neukölln. Here, she began studying chirology (the study of the hand) and palm reading.

With Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on January 30, 1933, antisemitism was backed by the full force of the German government. Charlotte’s partner, Katharine - who was not Jewish - decided to separate from Charlotte. She feared for her own life and safety if she continued associating with a Jew. In February 1933 Charlotte was forced to resign from her job as director at the Institute because of her Jewish background. Shortly after, in April of 1933, a series of laws forcibly expelled Jews from certain professions, including several in the medical field. 

Not long afterwards, the Nazi Gestapo arrested Charlotte on the subway for wearing men’s clothing. She was accused of being a spy. In a twist of good fortune, a guard recognized Charlotte as his wife’s doctor, and released her. The Gestapo were still convinced that Charlotte was a spy and a Communist, so they searched Charlotte’s house. This convinced Charlotte she had to flee Germany. On May 23, 1933 she obtained a passport and left for Paris.

In Paris, Charlotte lived with German journalist Helen Hessel. Charlotte’s medical certificate was not valid in France, so she was unable to practice medicine. There, she earned a living through hand analysis, also known as palm reading. As her career in France continued to progress, she opened her own business as a chirologist. 

Charlotte and Helen Hessel’s friendship ended by 1936 when Hessel made antisemitic remarks towards Charlotte. She had been rejected by her German girlfriend, her German coworkers, the German government, and now a German woman whom she had considered a close friend. It was too much for her, and Charlotte renounced everything related to Germany. Wolff stayed in Paris until a close friend, Maria Huxley, invited her to live and work in London.

Leaving Paris in 1936, Charlotte’s work Studies in Hand Reading was published in both the United States and England. One year later, she received a permanent residence permit and a license to practice psychoanalysis in England (but not medicine). As World War II broke out,  Charlotte renounced her German citizenship in 1939, and later received  British citizenship in 1947. She often described herself as “an international Jew with a British passport.” In the 1950s, Charlotte met and fell in love with Audrey Wood, a midwife. The two women remained together until Charlotte’s death over thirty years later.

British authorities did not recognize her medical license until 1952. In the 1960s, Charlotte began conducting empirical research on female bisexuality and homosexuality. Published in 1971, Charlotte’s book Love between Women was among the first investigations and attempts to look at the subject scientifically. Within the book, Wolff defended the concept that sexuality (including homosexuality) is primarily an emotional disposition and sexual desire is secondary. 

Charlotte’s last work, a biography of notable German-Jewish sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, was published in London in 1986. Titled A Portrait of a Pioneer in Sexology, it is regarded by many as her most important work. Charlotte Wolff died in London on September 12, 1986. She was 88. Her life partner Audrey Wood donated Charlotte’s materials and life work to the British Psychological Society.

Just as she wished for Hirschfeld's work and ideas to be accessible to a wider audience, Charlotte Wolff is remembered for her willingness to fight prejudice against sexual minorities by raising awareness and fostering empathy.