167. S. a Primo Levi, 5 settembre 1962

Baden-Baden, 5/9/62

Egregio Signor Levi, 

ho letto il suo libro SQEUU. Ella scrive, in una lettera al traduttore ivi riprodotta, di non capire i tedeschi, ma di sperare che il suo libro trovi risonanza in Germania, e che la natura di questa risonanza Le permetta di capirli meglio. Come tedesco, sensibile all’orrore e alla vergogna, e che fino alla fine dei suoi giorni sarà consapevole che l’orrore stesso ha avuto luogo per mano di uomini del suo paese, mi sento chiamato in causa dalle Sue parole, e desidero rispondere ad esse.

Neppure io capisco uomini come quel Kapo che si pulì la mano sulla sua spalla, e come Pannwitz,[1] e come Eichmann, e come tutti gli altri che eseguirono ordini disumani senza rendersi conto che non si può sfuggire alla propria responsabilità nascondendosi dietro a quella di altri. Che in Germania ci siano stati così numerosi esecutori materiali di un sistema criminoso (in parte vecchi delinquenti, in parte fanatici guidati da pazzi, in parte gente che credeva, o si sforzava di credere, che un ordine superiore coprisse ogni misfatto), e che tutto questo abbia potuto avvenire proprio grazie al grande numero delle persone a ciò disposte,^I chi, in quanto tedesco, potrebbe non provarne afflizione?^II

Ma sono costoro «i tedeschi»? Ed è lecito, comunque, parlare come di una entità unitaria «dei tedeschi», o «degli inglesi», o «degli italiani», o «degli ebrei»? Ella ha citato delle eccezioni ai «tedeschi» che lei non capisce: Thomas Mann e il Suo traduttore, sig. H. Riedt, e ha detto che non può ammettere che un uomo venga giudicato per il gruppo a cui gli accade di appartenere, e non per ciò che egli è.[2] La ringrazio per queste sue parole, ma La prego di ricordare che innumerevoli tedeschi hanno la Sua stessa convinzione; e che molti fra questi hanno sofferto e sono morti nella lotta contro l’iniquità. Tutti costoro, a qualsiasi nazionalità appartengano, si comprendono fra loro – io so che anche Lei pensa così.

Vorrei con tutto il cuore che molti dei miei connazionali leggessero il Suo libro, affinché noi tedeschi non diventiamo pigri e indifferenti, ma anzi, rimanga desta^III in noi la consapevolezza di quanto in basso possa cadere l’uomo che si fa tormentatore del suo simile. Allora il Suo libro potrà contribuire a che tutto questo mai più si ripeta.^IV

La saluto in comunanza di cuore – devo purtroppo scriverLe nella mia lingua, perché non conosco l’italiano.

S.

Baden-Baden

S.

Baden-Baden, September 5, 1962

Dear Mr. Primo Levi!

I read your book If This Is a Man. In a letter to the translator included in the book, you write that you do not understand the Germans, but hope that your book will find resonance in Germany and that the nature of this resonance will allow you to understand them better. As a German who feels grief and shame, and who will feel shame until the end of his life because of the horrors committed by people of his nation, I feel your words are addressed to me and want to respond.

I, too, fail to understand people like that Kapo who wipes his hand on your shoulder, and Doctor Pannwitz[1] and Eichmann and all the others who carried out inhuman orders without any sense that one cannot escape one’s own responsibility by hiding behind the responsibility of others. Given that there were so many accomplices to this criminal system among the German people—some criminals, some misguided fanatics, some who believed or convinced themselves that the leadership’s orders would cover any and every atrocity—and given that all this was only possible because of the large number of people who were willing—who among the Germans would not be horrified?

But are those people “the Germans”?

Can one even speak of “the Germans,” “the English,” “the Italians,” or “the Jews” as a single entity? You list exceptions to “the Germans” you do not understand—Thomas Mann and your translator Heinz Riedt—and say you cannot tolerate people being judged according to the group to which they happen to belong instead of according to what they are.[2] I thank you for these words, but please also remember that countless Germans share the same sentiment and many of them suffered and died fighting against injustice. All these people, whatever their nationality, understand each other—I know you are of the same opinion.

I sincerely hope many of my compatriots read your book, so that we do not become sluggish and indifferent, but rather remain aware of how low human beings can sink when they torment their fellow human beings. Then your book will help ensure that such a thing can never happen again.

I send you, most esteemed Mr. Primo Levi, my warm regards—regrettably, I must address you in my native language, as I do not speak Italian.

Sincerely yours,

S.

S.

Baden-baden, 5. September 1962

Verehrter Herr Primo Levi!

Ich las Ihr Buch Ist das ein Mensch. Sie schreiben in einem dort abgedruckten Brief an den Übersetzer, dass Sie die Deutschen nicht verstehen, aber hoffen, dass Ihr Buch in Deutschland Widerhall finden und die Natur dieser Widerhall Ihnen erlauben wird, sie besser zu verstehen. Als Deutscher, der Trauer und Scham empfindet und bis an sein Lebensende Scham empfinden wird, dass das Grauenhafte durch Menschen seiner Nation geschah, fühle ich mich durch Ihre Worte angesprochen und will darauf antworten.

Auch ich verstehe Menschen wie jenem Kapo, der seine Hand auf Ihre Schulter säubert, und den Doktor Pannwitz[1] und Eichmann und all die anderen nicht, die unmenschlich Befehle ausführten, ohne Gefühl dafür, dass man der eigenen Verantwortung nicht dadurch entgehen kam, dass man sich hinter der Verantwortung anderen versteckt.  Den es im deutschen Volk so viele handlanger einem verbrecherischen System gab – teils eher Kriminelle, teils irregeleitete Fanatiker, teils solchen, die glaubten oder sich einredeten, dass der Befehl des Vorgesehen jede Untat decke, und – das alles erst durch die grosse Zahl der so Bereiten möglich auch – wer sollte als Deutscher sich darüber nicht grausen!

Aber sind jene Menschen „die Deutschen“?

Kann man überhaupt von „den Deutschen“, „den Engländern”,  „den Italienern“ oder „den Juden“ als Einheit sprechen? Sie machten Ausnahmen von „den Deutschen“ die  Sie nicht verstehen – Thomas Mann und Ihren Übersetzer Heinz Riedt – und sagen, sie ertrügen es nicht dass man den Menschen nach der Gruppe, das es zufällig zugehört, und nicht nach den beurteilt, was er ist.[2] Ich danke Ihnen für dieses Wort, aber bitte denken Sie auch daran, dass unzählige Deutsche die gleiche Gesinnung haben und viele von ihnen im Kampf gegen das Unrecht litten und starben. Alle diese Menschen, welche Nationalität sie auch sein mögen, verstehen einander – ich weiss, das ist auch Ihre Meinung.

Ich wünsche von Herzen, dass viele meiner Landsleute Ihr Buch lesen, damit wir nicht träge und gleichgültig werden sondern uns bewusst bleibt, wie tief der Mensch als Peiniger des Menschen sinken kann. Dann wird Ihr Buch dazu beitragen, dass so etwas nie wieder geschehen kann. 

Es grüßt Sie, sehr verehrter Herr Primo Levi, in herzlichen Verbundenheit – leider muss ich Sie in meinen Muttersprache ansprechen, da ich die italienische Sprache nicht beherrsche –

Ihr ergebener

S.

S.

Baden-Baden, September 5, 1962

Dear Mr. Primo Levi!

I read your book If This Is a Man. In a letter to the translator included in the book, you write that you do not understand the Germans, but hope that your book will find resonance in Germany and that the nature of this resonance will allow you to understand them better. As a German who feels grief and shame, and who will feel shame until the end of his life because of the horrors committed by people of his nation, I feel your words are addressed to me and want to respond.

I, too, fail to understand people like that Kapo who wipes his hand on your shoulder, and Doctor Pannwitz[1] and Eichmann and all the others who carried out inhuman orders without any sense that one cannot escape one’s own responsibility by hiding behind the responsibility of others. Given that there were so many accomplices to this criminal system among the German people—some criminals, some misguided fanatics, some who believed or convinced themselves that the leadership’s orders would cover any and every atrocity—and given that all this was only possible because of the large number of people who were willing—who among the Germans would not be horrified?

But are those people “the Germans”?

Can one even speak of “the Germans,” “the English,” “the Italians,” or “the Jews” as a single entity? You list exceptions to “the Germans” you do not understand—Thomas Mann and your translator Heinz Riedt—and say you cannot tolerate people being judged according to the group to which they happen to belong instead of according to what they are.[2] I thank you for these words, but please also remember that countless Germans share the same sentiment and many of them suffered and died fighting against injustice. All these people, whatever their nationality, understand each other—I know you are of the same opinion.

I sincerely hope many of my compatriots read your book, so that we do not become sluggish and indifferent, but rather remain aware of how low human beings can sink when they torment their fellow human beings. Then your book will help ensure that such a thing can never happen again.

I send you, most esteemed Mr. Primo Levi, my warm regards—regrettably, I must address you in my native language, as I do not speak Italian.

Sincerely yours,

S.