A brilliant physics student at the University of Utrecht when the Nazis
came to power. The German authorities ordered that the 14th of June,
1941, would be the last day Jews were allowed to get a Ph.D in Holland.
Pais determined to get a Ph.D before this date, because he wanted to
get out of Holland to study abroad. On June 9, 1941, he earned his
degree, making him the last Jew to receive a doctorate degree in
wartime Holland.