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Submitted by: Dr. Rolf Dencker=20
Grace.Dencker@t-online.de
[e-mail on this subject is being forwarded to me by Berit Dencker (UCSD,
Sociology) who knows of my interest and thought I might have something to
contribute to the discussion.]
Your para 4, re ellipses: I have the Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft
Darmstadt Lizeneausgabe (1997), 2 Vol., of the 1933 - 1945 diaries,
"Herausgegeben von Walter Nowojski unter Mitarbeit von Hadwig Klemperer".
In an appendix ("Zu dieser Ausgabe") Nowojski says that his edition follows
the original diaries kept in the Saechsischen Landesbibliothek, Dresden.
"Das Material umfassst ca.5,000 Typoskript Seiten. Fuer die vorliegende
Ausgabe waren Kuerzungen unumgaenglich. Gekuerzt wurden neben vielfachen
Wiederholungen vor allem die zahlreichen, teilweise ausfuehrlichen
Lekture-Notate sowie Auszuege aus der Tages- und Wochenpresse. Einige
wenige Kuerzungen sind auch der Ruecksicht gegenueber Personen geschuldet.
Alle Kuerzungen des Herausgebers wurden durch (...) kenntlich gemacht." As
to possible problems in deciphering Klemperer's handwriting, Nowojski later
acknowledges a debt to Frau Dr Hadwig Klemperer: "(sie) uebernahm die
Uebertragung des aeusserst schwer zu entziffernden Handschriftlichen
Teils", but he does not attribute any gaps in the printed edition to
indecipherability.
Your para 2, re the delay before Klemperer commented on events: there could
be at least two simple practical explanations. a) There was no instant
independent reporting, since the Government controlled what should be
reported on, how and when, and the truth (e.g.from eyewitness
accounts)could take some time to filter through to the Klemperers. b)More
prosaically, Klemperer was devoting much of his time and energy to "his"
Eighteenth Century, and was at all times beset by the sheer business of
living - his own, and Eva's - ill health, failing eyesight, domestic chores
(when Eva was ill, as she often was), bills, building problems, the garden,
and, of course, adaptation to the restrictions that the Government thought
up daily.
As to presenting the subject to students, do you know of the excellent
cassette recording that has been made by Gert Westphal? Litraton, H. 1997
- 9 cassettes, 596 mins., DMk. 149,- "Aus den Tagebuechern 1933 - 45",
gelesen von Gert Westphal, ISBN 3 - 89469 - 104 Z. The readings were
broadcast (NDR3 Hamburg) in "Am Morgen vorglesen" in 1997 and did much to
arouse interest in the diaries among the general public here. The clarity
and dramatic quality of the readings might make for immediate and enjoyable
appreciation by students of German/German History.
Finally, what happened to the diaries between 1945 and 1955? Why the
50-year delay, or was there a DDR edition in this period?
Grace Dencker, Stockelsdorf (bei Luebeck) Germany
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
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