The Federal Republic of Germany established the Theodor Heuss Professorship--named for the first German president--in 1962, to recognize the role the New School in helping to bring endangered German scholars to the United States before and during World War II. Each year a leading German sociologist, historian, economist, political scientists, philosopher, social anthropologist, or psychologist assumes the role of Heuss Professor at the New School. In the first decade of the Professorship, the Volkswagen Foundation helped to fund the program. The first Heuss Professor was Helmuth Plessner from the University of Göttingen. Other early Heuss professors include Otto von der Gablentz, Jürgen Habermas, Renate Mayntz, Iring Fetscher, and Martin Irle. The New School celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Heuss Professorship in 2013.