Langbein involves Levi in new initiatives of the Committee.
Wien, den 8. November 1972
Herrn
Dr. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Ich danke Dir herzlich für Deine Grüsse aus Togliattigrad. Sicherlich hat diese Reise viele Eindrücke verschafft.[1]
Ich beeile mich, Dich durch Beilage eines Rundschreibens[2] von den Plänen unseres Auschwitz-Komitees zu verständigen; vielleicht hast Du die Möglichkeit, eine Dienstreise nach Köln oder Leverkusen mit dieser Tagung[3] zu koppeln. Es wäre schön, wenn wir uns wieder einmal sprechen könnten.
Mit recht herzlichen Grüssen bleibe ich wie stets
Dein
Vienna, 8 novembre 1972
Signor
Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Grazie mille per i tuoi saluti da Togliattigrad. Di sicuro questo viaggio ti avrà impressionato molto.[1]
Mi affretto a informarti dei piani del nostro Comitato di Auschwitz allegandoti una lettera circolare;[2] magari hai modo di combinare con questa conferenza[3] una trasferta di lavoro a Colonia o a Leverkusen. Sarebbe bello se potessimo parlare di nuovo.
Con i miei più cari saluti, come sempre
tuo
Vienna, November 8, 1972
Mr.
Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Many thanks for your greetings from Togliattigrad. Surely you must have gathered many impressions on your trip.[1]
I will just quickly update you on our Auschwitz Committee’s plans by enclosing one of the circulars;[2] perhaps you have the possibility of coordinating a work trip to Cologne or Leverkusen for one of these conferences.[3] It would be so nice to have another chance to talk.
With my warmest regards, I remain, as always,
Yours,
Wien, den 8. November 1972
Herrn
Dr. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Ich danke Dir herzlich für Deine Grüsse aus Togliattigrad. Sicherlich hat diese Reise viele Eindrücke verschafft.[1]
Ich beeile mich, Dich durch Beilage eines Rundschreibens[2] von den Plänen unseres Auschwitz-Komitees zu verständigen; vielleicht hast Du die Möglichkeit, eine Dienstreise nach Köln oder Leverkusen mit dieser Tagung[3] zu koppeln. Es wäre schön, wenn wir uns wieder einmal sprechen könnten.
Mit recht herzlichen Grüssen bleibe ich wie stets
Dein
Vienna, 8 novembre 1972
Signor
Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Grazie mille per i tuoi saluti da Togliattigrad. Di sicuro questo viaggio ti avrà impressionato molto.[1]
Mi affretto a informarti dei piani del nostro Comitato di Auschwitz allegandoti una lettera circolare;[2] magari hai modo di combinare con questa conferenza[3] una trasferta di lavoro a Colonia o a Leverkusen. Sarebbe bello se potessimo parlare di nuovo.
Con i miei più cari saluti, come sempre
tuo
Vienna, November 8, 1972
Mr.
Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75
Caro Amico,
Many thanks for your greetings from Togliattigrad. Surely you must have gathered many impressions on your trip.[1]
I will just quickly update you on our Auschwitz Committee’s plans by enclosing one of the circulars;[2] perhaps you have the possibility of coordinating a work trip to Cologne or Leverkusen for one of these conferences.[3] It would be so nice to have another chance to talk.
With my warmest regards, I remain, as always,
Yours,
Info
Notes
Tag
Sender: Hermann Langbein
Addressee: Primo Levi
Date of Drafting: 1972-11-08
Place of Writing: Wien
Description: carbon copy on onionskin paper of typewritten letter.
[1] Between 1970 and 1972, Levi went to the Soviet Union three times for work. These frequent trips to Moscow and, above all, to Togliattigrad, and his encounters with the Fiat workers who were building the AvtoVAZ factories there, provided a starting point for La chiave a stella (The Wrench) and for the character Faussone, a specialized worker who expresses himself in Piedmontese, cf. Quando un operaio specializzato diventa un personaggio letterario (“When a specialized worker becomes a character in a book”) by Alfredo Cattabiani OC III, pg. 129 and Ian Thomson, Primo Levi, cit., pp. 324-25 and pp. 333-34. On one of these occasions, he probably sent a postcard to Langbein, which, however, is not extant.
[2] Enclosure not present, cf. note 1, letter 006.
[3] This conference was organized on January 25, 1973 in Düsseldorf on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, and probably also included various encounters in schools, cf. letter 037.
