It became increasingly clear that, although Friedrichs was not directly affected by the Nazis laws against Jews, many of his friends and colleagues were directly affected in a very serious way. Lewy had left Germany as soon as Hitler came to power, and soon Courant was dismissed from his post and was forced to emigrate to the United States. Nellie, who was now Friedrichs' girlfriend, was also dismissed from her position as an assistant at the Technische Hochschule. Friedrichs visited Courant in New York in the summer of 1935, officially to work with him on the second volume of Courant - Hilbert, but in fact mainly to see if it might be possible for him to emigrate.
Mas madalas ito ay naging malinaw na, kahit Friedrichs ay hindi direktang apektado ng Nazis mga batas laban sa Judio, maraming ng kanyang mga kaibigan at kasamahan ay direktang apektado sa isang malubhang paraan. Lewy had kaliwa Germany sa sandaling Hitler ang dumating sa kapangyarihan, at sa lalong madaling panahon Courant ay awas mula sa kanyang post at noon ay sapilitang sa mandayuhan sa Estados Unidos. Nellie, na ngayon ay Friedrichs' kasintahan, ay din awas mula sa kanyang posisyon bilang isang assistant sa Technische Hochschule. Friedrichs binisita Courant sa New York sa tag-init ng 1935, opisyal na gumagana sa kanya sa ikalawang dami ng Courant - Hilbert, ngunit sa katunayan pangunahin upang makita kung ito ay maaaring maging posible para sa kanya na dumayo.