Levi has been invited to Germany by the International Committee of the Camps, but is obliged to turn down the invitation: during that same period in April 1965 he will be going to Auschwitz with Leonardo De Benedetti and Giuliana Tedeschi.
18/2/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Cher ami,
je vous remercie bien de votre lettre circulaire et de votre invitation.[1] Malheureusement, je ne suis pas à même de l’accepter, puisque à cette époque (mais seulement pendant 4-5 jours) je compte me rendre à Auschwitz pour les cérémonies du XX anniversaire de la Libération: De Benedetti sera avec moi. D’ailleurs, ma connaissance de l’allemand est trop rudimentaire pour me permettre de participer au programme de contacts avec la jeunesse qui est envisagé par le CIC.[2]
Bien merci, et les meilleurs souhaits pour vous et pour votre initiative
Votre
Primo Levi
18/2/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Caro amico,
La ringrazio molto per la lettera circolare e per l’invito.[1] Purtroppo non sono in condizione di poterlo accettare, perché in quel periodo (ma solo per 4-5 giorni) conto di andare ad Auschwitz per le cerimonie del XX anniversario della Liberazione: sarà con me De Benedetti. Peraltro la mia conoscenza del tedesco è troppo rudimentale per consentirmi di partecipare al programma di incontri con i giovani previsto dal CIC.[2]
Grazie molte, con i migliori auguri per Lei e la Sua iniziativa
Suo
Primo Levi
2/18/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Dear friend,
Thank you very much for your circular letter and your invitation.[1] Unfortunately, I am unable to accept it, since at that time (but only for 4-5 days) I plan on going to Auschwitz for the ceremonies for the 20th anniversary of the Liberation: De Benedetti will be with me. Also, my knowledge of German is too rudimentary to allow me to participate in the schedule of encounters with young people that is planned by the CIC.[2]
Thank you very much, and best wishes for you and for your initiative
Yours
Primo Levi
18/2/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Cher ami,
je vous remercie bien de votre lettre circulaire et de votre invitation.[1] Malheureusement, je ne suis pas à même de l’accepter, puisque à cette époque (mais seulement pendant 4-5 jours) je compte me rendre à Auschwitz pour les cérémonies du XX anniversaire de la Libération: De Benedetti sera avec moi. D’ailleurs, ma connaissance de l’allemand est trop rudimentaire pour me permettre de participer au programme de contacts avec la jeunesse qui est envisagé par le CIC.[2]
Bien merci, et les meilleurs souhaits pour vous et pour votre initiative
Votre
Primo Levi
18/2/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Caro amico,
La ringrazio molto per la lettera circolare e per l’invito.[1] Purtroppo non sono in condizione di poterlo accettare, perché in quel periodo (ma solo per 4-5 giorni) conto di andare ad Auschwitz per le cerimonie del XX anniversario della Liberazione: sarà con me De Benedetti. Peraltro la mia conoscenza del tedesco è troppo rudimentale per consentirmi di partecipare al programma di incontri con i giovani previsto dal CIC.[2]
Grazie molte, con i migliori auguri per Lei e la Sua iniziativa
Suo
Primo Levi
2/18/1965
Hermann Langbein
bei Urbann
6 FRANKFURT MAIN – Niedenau 39
Dear friend,
Thank you very much for your circular letter and your invitation.[1] Unfortunately, I am unable to accept it, since at that time (but only for 4-5 days) I plan on going to Auschwitz for the ceremonies for the 20th anniversary of the Liberation: De Benedetti will be with me. Also, my knowledge of German is too rudimentary to allow me to participate in the schedule of encounters with young people that is planned by the CIC.[2]
Thank you very much, and best wishes for you and for your initiative
Yours
Primo Levi
Info
Notes
Tag
Sender: Primo Levi
Addressee: Hermann Langbein
Date of Drafting: 1965-02-18
Place of Writing: Turin
Description: typewritten letter on letterhead paper, handwritten signature in blue fountain pen, mm225x140.
Letterhead: PRIMO LEVI | CORSO RE UMBERTO 75 | TORINO | Tel. 58.60.25
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15160/ECP2-C163
1
The circular letter and the invitation have not been found, cf. note 1, letter 006.
2
During the same years that the Frankfurt trials were being held (1963-65), Langbein began speaking in schools, first in Frankfurt and its surrounding area, then in the states of Hesse, West Berlin, and Bremen. This experience led to the book Auschwitz und die junge Generation, Vienna: Europaverlag, 1967 (“Auschwitz and the young generation”); cf. the Insight. It is to be inferred that the invitation to Germany on April 8 concerned one of these meetings.
