009. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 24 ottobre 1961

Vienna, 24 ottobre 1961

Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro amigo,

La ringrazio molto per le Sue righe del primo ottobre. Nella nostra revisione si è tenuto conto di tutti i Suoi suggerimenti. Come desiderava, ho anche reinserito il brano tagliato a suo tempo.[1]

Naturalmente, «L’ultimo» precederà «Dieci giorni». «L’ultimo» è collocato nella sezione in cui sono descritti i vari sottocampi di Auschwitz: Buna, grazie al Suo contributo, è fra questi. «Dieci giorni» è invece nelle ultime pagine del libro e conclude la descrizione delle vicende di Auschwitz.

Ho esaminato con cura tutti i manoscritti e ho letto il libro da cima a fondo. Complimenti a tutti e in particolare a Lei per i Suoi contributi, che hanno grande forza espressiva.

Per il resto devo dire, purtroppo, che la segreteria generale di Varsavia continua a fare di tutto per metterci i bastoni fra le ruote. Oltre alle calunnie, di cui a quanto pare non sanno fare a meno, ora fanno anche pressione sugli autori che vivono nei Paesi dell’Est per convincerli a revocare la cessione dei diritti di pubblicazione. Ma non si rendono conto che in questo modo si danno la zappa sui piedi: se il volume su Auschwitz uscirà con un numero di contributi dall’Est inferiore a quello previsto in origine (alcuni sono già sicuri), la cosa difficilmente andrà a scapito del libro, mentre di certo non andrà a vantaggio dei Paesi dell’Est.[2]

Ora basta annoiarLa con i miei problemi. Una buona notizia: sono riuscito a scovare un collaboratore di Eichmann che vive a Milano sotto falso nome.[3] Spero che si riuscirà a consegnarlo alla giustizia.

Con i miei saluti più cari, anche al Dott. Benedetti[4]

sempre suo

(Hermann Langbein)

Vienna, October 24, 1961

Mr. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro amigo,

Thank you so much for your letter of October 1. All your recommended corrections will of course be made. And—per your request—I have also included the previously omitted passage.[1]

Naturally “The Last One” will appear before “Ten Days”. “The Last One” will be in the section describing the various camps at Auschwitz. Buna will be represented there though your contribution. “Ten Days” will come at the very end of the book. It will bring the portrayal of experiences at Auschwitz to a close.

I have worked through all the manuscripts several times and have now read the book as a whole. I would like to congratulate everyone involved, and you for your contributions. Their expressive power is very strong.

Unfortunately, the general secretariat in Warsaw continues to create difficulties for the book. In addition to the slander they apparently believed necessary, they are now also pressuring the authors who live in the East to withdraw their permission to publish their contributions. They seem to be unaware that would effectively be shooting themselves in the foot: if the Auschwitz book is published with fewer contributions from the East than originally planned—a few are certain—it would not work against the book, but it certainly would not be useful to the Eastern countries.[2]

But I do not wish to bother you regarding the adversities I unfortunately have to contend with here. A bit of good news: I have managed to track down one of Eichmann’s collaborators, who is currently living in Milan under an assumed name.[3] I hope it will be possible to bring him to Justice.

With warmest regards, to Dr. Benedetti[4] as well,

I remain yours,

(Hermann Langbein)

Wien, den 24. Oktober 1961

Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro amigo,

Ich danke Ihnen herzlich für Ihre Zeilen vom 1. 10. Alle Ihre Korrekturvorschläge wurden selbstverständlich in unsere Korrekturen übernommen. Auch die seinerzeit gestrichene Stelle habe ich – Ihrem Wunsch gemäss – wieder eingesetzt.[1]

Selbstverständlich wird Ihr Beitrag „Der Letzte“ vor dem „Zehn Tage“ gebracht. „Der Letzte“ kommt in den Abschnitt, wo die verschiedenen Lager von Auschwitz geschildert werden. Durch Ihren Beitrag ist dort Buna vertreten. „Zehn Tage“ kommt ganz ans Ende des Buchs. Mit ihm schliesst die Schilderung der Vorkommnisse in Auschwitz ab.

Ich habe nun recht oft alle Manuskripte durchgearbeitet und das Buch im Zusammenhang gelesen. Ich darf uns und Ihnen zu Ihren Beiträgen gratulieren. Sie sind von einer sehr starken Ausdruckskraft.

Sonst wäre noch – leider – mitzuteilen, dass sich das Warschauer Generalsekretariat weiterhin bemüht, den Buch Schwierigkeiten zu bereiten. Neben den Verleumdungen, die dort scheinbar als notwendig empfunden werden, setzt man jetzt die Autoren von Beiträgen, die im Osten wohnen, unter Druck, damit sie die Veröffentlichungsrechte zurückziehen. Dabei scheinen sie nicht zu sehen, dass sie damit ins eigene Fleisch schneiden: Wenn das Auschwitz-Buch mit weniger Beiträgen aus dem Osten erscheint, als ursprünglich vorgesehen war – einige sind sicher –, dann wirkt das wohl nicht gegen das Buch, aber nützt sicher nicht den Ländern im Osten.[2]

Weiter möchte ich Sie aber nicht mit den Widrigkeiten behelligen, mit denen ich mich leider herumschlagen muss. Eine erfreuliche Nachricht: Es ist mir gelungen, einen Mitarbeiter Eichmanns ausfindig zu machen, der gegenwärtig unter falschem Namen in Milano lebt.[3] Ich hoffe, dass es gelingen wird, ihn der Justiz zuzuführen.

Mit herzlichsten Grüssen, auch an Dott. Benedetti[4]

bleibe ich Ihr

(Hermann Langbein)

Vienna, October 24, 1961

Mr. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro amigo,

Thank you so much for your letter of October 1. All your recommended corrections will of course be made. And—per your request—I have also included the previously omitted passage.[1]

Naturally “The Last One” will appear before “Ten Days”. “The Last One” will be in the section describing the various camps at Auschwitz. Buna will be represented there though your contribution. “Ten Days” will come at the very end of the book. It will bring the portrayal of experiences at Auschwitz to a close.

I have worked through all the manuscripts several times and have now read the book as a whole. I would like to congratulate everyone involved, and you for your contributions. Their expressive power is very strong.

Unfortunately, the general secretariat in Warsaw continues to create difficulties for the book. In addition to the slander they apparently believed necessary, they are now also pressuring the authors who live in the East to withdraw their permission to publish their contributions. They seem to be unaware that would effectively be shooting themselves in the foot: if the Auschwitz book is published with fewer contributions from the East than originally planned—a few are certain—it would not work against the book, but it certainly would not be useful to the Eastern countries.[2]

But I do not wish to bother you regarding the adversities I unfortunately have to contend with here. A bit of good news: I have managed to track down one of Eichmann’s collaborators, who is currently living in Milan under an assumed name.[3] I hope it will be possible to bring him to Justice.

With warmest regards, to Dr. Benedetti[4] as well,

I remain yours,

(Hermann Langbein)