037. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 1 dicembre 1972

Francoforte, 1 dicembre 72[1]

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

Ho ricevuto la tua lettera del 19 novembre (timbro postale del 20) solo ieri, a Vienna, poco prima di partire. Vista l’estrema inaffidabilità del servizio postale, comincio a dubitare che tu abbia ricevuto la mia lettera dell’8 novembre, dato che non rispondi se puoi o vuoi essere a Düsseldorf il 25/1/73. Se decidessi di venire, ne sarei molto felice. Finalmente potrei parlare di nuovo con te, anche tanti altri compagni di Auschwitz sarebbero di sicuro contenti di ritrovarti e sto cercando, per l’occasione, di organizzare qualche incontro con gli studenti di Düsseldorf, Bochum o Colonia. Tu saresti di sicuro l’interlocutore adatto. Proprio in questo momento sto andando a Düsseldorf per chiarire e organizzare tutto direttamente sul posto, per quanto possibile.

Einaudi ha rispedito il mio libro alla Europaverlag con una nota in cui dice non essere interessata a una traduzione italiana. Non vedo quindi alcuna possibilità che l’Europaverlag contatti nuovamente Daniele Ponchiroli, anche se il rifiuto di Einaudi mi è dispiaciuto.

Sull’esecuzione a Monowitz ho diverse testimonianze, alcune sono riportate anche in Uomini ad Auschwitz. Ma dato che quasi nessuno cita i nomi, è difficile per me dire se si tratta di esecuzioni diverse o della stessa, soprattutto perché il “cerimoniale” era probabilmente simile in tutte.

I miei più cari saluti come sempre,

tuo

Frankfurt, December 1, 1972[1]

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

I only received your letter of November 19 (postmarked on the 20^th) yesterday, just before leaving Vienna. Given the extreme unreliability of the postal service, I now doubt whether you received my letter of November 8, especially since you have not told me whether you are able and willing to travel to Düsseldorf this coming January 25. I would be so glad if you decided to come. We would finally be able to speak again in person, other fellow Auschwitz survivors would certainly be glad to reunite with you there, and now I am also planning some talks with students in either Düsseldorf, Bochum or Cologne for the occasion. You would certainly be the ideal interlocutor for such conversations. I am on my way to Düsseldorf now, to look into possible venues and organize everything.

Einaudi has sent my book back to Europaverlag with a note stating they are not interested in an Italian translation. So I see no chance that Europaverlag will contact Daniele Ponchiroli yet again in regard to that, although I was sorry to learn Einaudi passed on it.

Regarding the execution in Monowitz, I have several testimonies and some are quoted in People in Auschwitz. But because virtually no one names names, it is hard for me to distinguish whether this is a matter of various instances or one and the same execution, especially since the “ritual” would have been similar with all of them.

My warmest regards, as ever,

Yours,

Frankfurt, den 1. Dezember 72[1]

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

Deinen Brief vom 19. 11. (mit Poststempel vom 20.) habe ich erst gestern unmittelbar vor meiner Abreise in Wien bekommen. Ich habe wegen der extremen Unverlässlichkeit der Post nun auch Zweifel, ob Du meinen Brief vom 8. 11. erhalten hast; denn Du antwortest nicht, ob Du am 25.1.73 nach Düsseldorf kommen kannst und willst. Ich wär recht froh, wenn Du Dich dafür entscheiden würdest. Endlich könnte ich wieder mit Dir sprechen, auch andere Auschwitzer werden sich sicher freuen, mit Dir dort zusammenzukommen und ich versuche nun auch, bei diesem Anlass Aussprachen mit Studenten in Düsseldorf, Bochum oder Köln zustandezubringen. Da wärst Du sicher der geeignete Gesprächspartner. Eben fahre ich nach Düsseldorf, um alles wenn irgend möglich an Ort und Stelle zu klären und organisieren.

Einaudi hat dem Europaverlag mein Buch zurückgeschickt mit dem Vermerk, dass er an einer italienischen Übersetzung nicht interessiert ist. Ich sehe daher keine Möglichkeit, dass sich der Europaverlag nun nochmals deswegen mit Daniele Ponchiroli in Verbindung setzt, so leid mir auch die Absage Einaudis tut.

Über Hinrichtung in Monowitz habe ich mehrere Aussagen, einige sind auch in Menschen in Auschwitz zitiert. Da aber kaum jemand Namen nennt, kann ich schwer erkennen, ob es sich um verschiedene oder um die gleiche Hinrichtung handelt, vor allem deswegen, weil das „Zeremoniell“ bei allen wohl ähnlich gewesen sein dürfte.

Herzlichst wie immer grüsst Dich

Dein

Frankfurt, December 1, 1972[1]

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

I only received your letter of November 19 (postmarked on the 20^th) yesterday, just before leaving Vienna. Given the extreme unreliability of the postal service, I now doubt whether you received my letter of November 8, especially since you have not told me whether you are able and willing to travel to Düsseldorf this coming January 25. I would be so glad if you decided to come. We would finally be able to speak again in person, other fellow Auschwitz survivors would certainly be glad to reunite with you there, and now I am also planning some talks with students in either Düsseldorf, Bochum or Cologne for the occasion. You would certainly be the ideal interlocutor for such conversations. I am on my way to Düsseldorf now, to look into possible venues and organize everything.

Einaudi has sent my book back to Europaverlag with a note stating they are not interested in an Italian translation. So I see no chance that Europaverlag will contact Daniele Ponchiroli yet again in regard to that, although I was sorry to learn Einaudi passed on it.

Regarding the execution in Monowitz, I have several testimonies and some are quoted in People in Auschwitz. But because virtually no one names names, it is hard for me to distinguish whether this is a matter of various instances or one and the same execution, especially since the “ritual” would have been similar with all of them.

My warmest regards, as ever,

Yours,