The House of Wittgenstein: A Family at War

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by Alexander Waugh


  225 "because I do not want you to suffer." Denn icb wunscbe nicbt, dass der Unterricbt meiner Scbuler durcb die politische Umwdlzung ane Unterbrecbung erleidet. PW to Ernst Schlesinger "Henry Selbing," 8/16/1938, quoted in Suchy, Janik and Predota, p. 22.

  57.ARREST

  227 "It is noteworthy that in Hermann Christian's certificate." An diesem Taufscbein, dessen beglaubigte Abscbrift icb beifuge, ist bemerkenswert, dass wobl seine Erau, nicbtaber er ais ebelicb geboren bezeicbnet wird. Ebenso ist die Fortnel "im judiscben Glauben erzogen" nicbt gewobnlicb; sie ist wobl bewusst gewdblt worden urn auszudrucken, dass er eigentlicb der judiscben Kultegemeinde nicbt angeborte, sondern nur in ibr erzogen wurde. Brigitte Zwiauer to Reichsstelle fur Sippenforschung, Vienna, 9/29/1938, copy, Wittgenstein Archive, Cambridge.

  231 "Sir: Having returned from a voyage." JSt to WP, 9/6/1938, printed 9/8/1938.

  231 "These are serious times for the family." Jetzt sind ernste Zeiten fur die Familie, ein grosses Abrecbnen und Prufen aller Verbdltnisse, abgeseben von den dusseren Gefabren. Mancbmal sebe icb alies deutlicb vor mir und icb denke mir: Kein Stein wird auf dem anderen bleiben. HW to LW, 10/15/1938, GBW.

  232 "our appearance and manner of speech." HWi, p. 173.

  233 "evil blow." Ibid., p. 174.

  58. A SECOND EMIGRATION

  233 "You all behave like cattle." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 12, n. 10, WMGA, pc.

  235 "Although I have obtained the ticket." PW to MD, 11/1938, BL.

  236 "I'll definitely be coming back." Ibid.

  236 "Dearest Lena, Paul Wittgenstein asked me." MD to her sister Helene Deneke, in Deneke Papers, BL.

  236 "I took a long walk with him on deck." MD, "Memoirs," vol. 2, p. 64.

  59. CHANGING SIDES

  237 "Our family lacks the leading man." Es feblt unserer Familie der leitende Mann. Max ist alt und leider sebr krank, Paul versagt, Fritz feblt es an Tiefe und Gewicbt. Was bilft es da, dass Gretl ein grosses Herz bat und sicb um alie bekummert; die Probleme sind zu unlosbar. HW to LW, 10/15/1938, GBW.

  237 "One comes up against obstacles everywhere." Man stosst uberall auf Scbwierigkeiten, kann nur boffen, dass es gelingen wird sie zu uberwinden. PW to Ludwig Hansel, 1/9/1939, in Somavilla, Unterkircher and Berger, p. 154.

  238 "How shall I manage without her?" Anecdote told to the author by Leonard Kastle, 5/2007.

  239 "This memorandum will not be seen." Harold Manheim, "Memorandum with Regard to Paul Wittgenstein's Relations with his Sister in Vienna," 2/17/1944, p. 2, WMGA, pc.

  239 "Mrs Stonborough evidently felt in 1938 and 1939." Ibid., p. 6.

  239 "negotiated themselves out of it." Der Krieg ist abgewendet und mit ibm aucb die imminenteste andere Gefabr, aus der beraus wir gebandelt baben. HW to LW, 10/22/1938, GBW.

  239 "Gretl and some good friends again found means." HWi, p. 175.

  240 "a gent and on very good terms." JSt to Brian McGuinness, 1/13/1989, pc.

  240 "I hereby confirm of my own free will." Erkldrung Icb bestdtige gerne, dass bis beute den 4. Juni 1938, keinerlei Bebelligung meiner Person oder meiner Hausgenossen vorgekommen ist. Beborden und Funktiondre der Partei sind mir und meinem Hausgenossen stdndig korrekt und rucksicbstvoll entgegengetreten. Wien, den 4. Juni 1938. Prof. Dr. Sigm. Freud. Statement by Sigmund Freud 6/4/1938, in "A Sale in Vienna," printed in Journal de l'Association Internationale d'Histoire de la Psycbanalyse, vol. 8, 1989.

  241 "Indra was a very handsome man." JSt to Brian McGuinness, 2/8/1989, pc.

  242 "You know, there are those in Berlin." HWi, p. 176.

  243 "Either you can emigrate." Ibid.

  243 "Our friendship with the Reichsbank began." HWi, p. 178. In a letter to Brian McGuinness (1/13/1989) JSt says, "The Reichsbank in Berlin were honest and honorable," and describes Hans Schoene as "young and nice."

  60. NAZIS ARRIVE IN AMERICA

  243 "The Germans have been very generous." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 7, WMGA, pc.

  244 "a fighter who brooked no interference." JSt to Brian McGuinness, 1/22/1989, pc.

  245 "he never opened his mouth in my presence." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 2, WMGA, pc.

  245 "Since I came to America far too late." Ibid., p. 7.

  245 "My sister has not the slightest reason." Ibid., p. 6.

  246 "Where are the Germans?." Ibid., p. 5.

  247 "I listened with considerable interest." Ibid.

  247 "It would have been better if we could." Ibid., p. 9.

  247 "PERSONALLY SHALL TAKE NO MORE." PW to JSt, quoted in ibid., p. 14.

  247 "Back then, Wachtell literally saved me." Ibid., p. 9.

  61. THE STONBOROUGHS' MOTIVATION

  247 "That is only a suspicion." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 15, n. 12, WMGA, pc.

  248 "Finally it was decided to allow Paul." HWi, p. 178.

  248 "extremely dangerous." Konrad Bloch to Samuel Wachtell, 6/20/1939, WMGA, pc.

  248 "That Paul does not give his money to the Reichsbank." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 15, WMGA, pc.

  248 "a real shit!" JSt to Brian McGuinness, 2/2/1989, pc.

  248 "by the Jewish lawyers, Wachtell and Bloch." Hans Schoene to Reichsbank, quoted in PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 17, WMGA, pc.

  249 "Alfred Indra dictated a letter to me." JSt to Brian McGuinness, 1/13/1989, pc.

  249 "DO NOT INSIST ON HALF-BREED STATUS." Quoted in PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 11, WMGA, pc.

  249 "DON'T GIVE IN OR AUNT IMPRISONED." Ji--nicbt nacbgeben oder Tante eingesperrt. Recorded in LWs diary, 7/24/1939, Trinity College Library, Cambridge. The singular Tante refers to Hermine.

  249 "Dear Professor Wittgenstein, The announcement." Samuel Wachtell to LW, 7/14/1939, WMGA, pc.

  250 "the Stonboroughs' behaviour was certainly rash." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 10, WMGA, pc.

  250 "Had I realised then how insane Paul was." JSt to Brian McGuinness, 8/19/1993, pc.

  62. THE THREAT OF WAR

  252 "You have my entire confidence." LW to Samuel Wachtell, 7/24/1939, WMGA, pc.

  253 "Dr Indra said that no one would dare." Samuel Wachtell, Internal Memorandum, 8/17/1939, WMGA, pc.

  253 "In the matter of the origins of the Wittgenstein family." Kurt Mayer to Gauamt fur Sippenforschung der NSDAP, Vienna, 2/10/1940, copy, pc.

  254 "I have no knowledge as to whether personal belongings." PW completed form: Aliens' Questionnaire, p. 3, Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of 12/31/1944, signed 8/17/1945, pc.

  63. VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS

  255 "Acbtung! Panzer, marscb!" Kurt Meyer, p. 1.

  256 "I was bright enough to assert loud." JSt to Brian McGuinness, John and Jerome Stonborough, 3/12/1999, pc.

  257 "The liner Manhattan, which docked at New York." Dudley Harmon, "About the Town," WP, 10/3/1939, p. 12.

  258 "In order to lend particular weight." Friedrich Plattner, Scbnellbrief 'to Hans Heinrich Lammers, 1/9/1940, copy, pc.

  64. COLD WAR

  259 "There is no place I can find rest." Es gibt aucb bier keine Oase in der man sicb ausruben konnte & icb kann aucb niemandem in meiner Umgebung wirklicb nutzlicb sein. So Gott will finde icb, wenn icb bier bleiben muss, irgendeine nutzlicbe Bescbaftigung MSt to LW, 1940, GBW

  260 "I have done fairly well in the administration." JSt to LW, 12/2/1944, GBW.

  65. A FAMILY REUNION

  262 "I would go to see him with joy." MSt to LW, 9/1940, GBW.

  262 "Paul's friend (with her children)." Ibid.

  66. BENJAMIN BRITTEN

  262 "In the afternoon." Benjamin Britten, Diary, 2/14/1929, quoted in Mitchell and Reed, vol. 2, p. 828, n. 1.

  262 "We went and had a long talk." Peter Pears to Elizabeth Mayer, 7/4/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 826.

  263 "I called Mr. Wittgenstein." Hans Heinsheimer to Benjamin Britten, 7/2/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 826.

  263 "I pulled off the deal with Wittgenstein." Benjam
in Britten to Elizabeth Mayer, 7/29/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 834.

  263 "I've been commissioned by a man." Benjamin Britten to Beth Welford, 6/26/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 831.

  264 "This is a truly amazing work." Eugene Goossens to Hans Heinsheimer, 9/27/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 874, n. 5.

  264 "A nice place with a view to the bay." Das Haus ist sebon gelegen mit der Aussicbt aufeine Meeresbucbt, hat einen bubscben Garten, in dem icb im nacbsten Jahr Erdbeeren und Ribisel zu zieben gedenke, und, was das Wicbtigste ist, bis zum Badestrand sind es nur io Minuten zu gebenl PW to Rudolf Koder, 7/31/1941, pc.

  264 "playing against the noise of your orchestra." PW to Benjamin Britten, 7/31/1941, Britten-Pears Archive.

  264 "I'm having a slight altercation." Benjamin Britten to Ralph Hawkes, 7/23/1941, quoted in Mitchell and Reed, vol. 2, p. 956.

  264 "Wittgenstein is being stupid." Peter Pears to Elizabeth Mayer, 8/23/1940, quoted in ibid., p. 957, n. 6.

  265 "In the museum in Vienna I have seen." PW to Benjamin Britten, 7/31/1941, Britten-Pears Archive.

  265 "to hear Wittgenstein wreck my Diversions." Benjamin Britten to Albert Goldberg, 1/20/1942, quoted in Mitchell and Reed, vol. 2, p. 1014.

  265 "A one-armed pianist, whose right sleeve." Linton Martin review, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/17/1942.

  265 "Wittgenstein is playing his piece on Friday." Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten to Antonio and Peggy Brosa, 3/10/1942, quoted in Mitchell and Reed, vol. 2, p. 1024.

  266 "I felt I wanted to see him." MSt to LW, March-April 1942, GBW

  67. THE WITTGENSTEINS' WAR

  266 "Thought: it would be good and right." LW, MS 120, 1/4/1938, quoted in Monk, p. 387.

  266 "turned white as a sheet." Dr. R Grant to Georg von Wright, undated, pc.

  267 "My soul is very tired." LW to Rowland Hutt, 11/27/1941, GBW.

  267 "an ingenious departure from standard practice." Dr. R Grant to Georg von Wright, undated, pc.

  267 "It goes very near me." MSt to LW, c. end of September 1944, GBW.

  268 "I like her very much although." MSt to LW, 3/14/1944, GBW.

  268 "a damned inefficient bunch of dolts." JSt to Joan Ripley, 9/13/1999, pc.

  268 "some bastard of a Canadian General." Brian McGuinness, John Stonborough obituary, Independent, 6/4/2002.

  270 "went about for ten years shouting 'Heil Hitler!' " Zehnjahre lang hat er Heil Hitler gerufen. PW to Rudolf Koder, 1/6/1957, pc.

  270 "In Austria we do not take Herr Wittgenstein seriously." Wir in Oesterreich nehmen Herrn W. nicht ernst. Ein cholerischer Neurastheniker, reich, anmassend und als Pianist miserabel. Friedrich Wuhrer to Siegfried Rapp, 12/26/1949, quoted in Siegfried Rapp to Ottakar Hollmann, 12/1/1956, quoted in Suchy, Janik and Predota, p. 119.

  68. ROADS' END

  272 "It seems that my sister Gretl gave me." Aus ihr gebt hervor, lab mir mane Scbwester Gretl wieder eine falsche Nachricbt gegeben bat, als sie sagte, Mining erkenne niemand mebr. Es ist schrecklicb fur micb, widersprechende Nachricbten zu erhalten. Bitte lab Dicb durcb neimand beeinflufien & scbreib mir nacb wie vor die Wabrheit, so wie Du sie weifit. Bitte verlafi Dicb nicht auf das Urteil meiner Scbwester Gretl, es ist viel zu temperamentvoll. LW to Rudolf Koder, 3/2/1949, GBW.

  273 "I haven't done any work since." LW to Norman Malcolm, 5/17/1949, GBW.

  273 "I don't want to die in America." Malcolm, p. 77.

  274 "I am thinking of going to Vienna." LW to Jean Rhees, 11/28/1949, GBW.

  274 "My eldest sister died very peacefully." LW to Georg Henrik von Wright, 2/12/1950, GBW.

  275 "Great loss for me and all of us." Grosser Verlust fur micb und alie. Grosser als icb geglaubt batte. LW, MS 138, 2/10/1949, quoted in HW2, p. 38.

  275 "I am going to work now as I have." Ray Monk interview with Joan Bevan,

  quoted in Monk, p. 577. 275 "Many happy returns!" Ibid.

  275 "Someone who dreaming says." LW, On Certainty, point 676, p. 90.

  276 "For a time I really believed that Paul would get over his attitude." MSt to LW, May 1942, GBW.

  69. THE END OF THE LINE

  278 "I think I am going to have a great deal." Trevor Harvey to MD, 8/19/1959, BL.

  278 "familiarity with these works has bred." Review, The Times, 10/31/1950.

  279 "You don't build a house." PW to Siegfried Rapp, 6/5/1950, quoted in Suchy, Janik and Predota, p. 172.

  279 "I had imagined that there might be." Siegfried Rapp to Ottakar Hollmann, 12/1/1959, quoted in ibid., p. 118.

  279 "You are overrating me by far." PW to Leonard Kastle, 6/13/1960, University at Albany, Special Collections.

  280 "I was sure that he would have hated." MSt to LW, 6/1942, GBW.

  280 "I believe that she wants to make peace." Icb glaube, sie will gleicbsam von ibrer Seite Friede machen & in sicb alie Bitterkeit, die docb existiert baben mufi, ausloscben. LW to Rudolf Koder, 8/23/1949, GBW.

  280 "since it is possible that at a later date." PW to Konrad Bloch, 6/26/1939, WMGA, pc.

  280 "The following was not originally intended." PW, Testament Appendix, 1/31/1945 [sic], p. 1, WMGA, pc.

  280 "Paul is in Oxford with the Denekes." Paul ist jetzt mit den Denekes in Oxford, & icb erbielt neulicb eine sebr selfsame mir ekelerregende Einladung von Miss Deneke, sie dort wahrend Pauls Anwesenbeit zu besucben. ?ass, & warum, icb diese Einladung weder annebmen kann, nocb will, babe icb ibr gescbrieben. Icb bin sicber, dafi die Einladung der Miss Deneke nicbt in Pauls Auftrag gescbrieben war. Icb glaube vielmebr, dafi sie eine Zusammenkunft berbeifubren wollte, & mein Bruder ibr die Erlaubnis gab, micb einzuladen, was sie, ibrer Dummbeit entsprecbend, in der dummsten Form getan bat. LW to Rudolf Koder, 2/22/1949, GBW

  281 "He was sitting in a dressing gown." MD, "Memoirs," vol. 2, p. 80.

  281 "I kept out of contact with my brother." PW to Rudolf Koder, 10/7/1953, pc.

  282 "That our house in the Alleegasse is not." PW to Rudolf Koder, 5/21/1955, pc. "Selig sind die Toten." Words of the final chorus of Brahms's Ein Deutscbes Requiem, taken from Revelation 14:13.

  282 "As a personal friend Paul Wittgenstein." Harvey, "Paul Wittgenstein: A Personal Reminiscence," in The Gramophone, June 1961, p. 2.

  282 "Loyalty to his friends was part." MD, "Mr. Paul Wittgenstein. Devotion to Music."

  POSTSCRIPT

  283 "a stern, incomprehensible." Ripley, "A Memory of My Father," pc.

  1. BOOKS

  Abrahamsen, David: Otto Weininger: The Mind of a Genius. New York 1946

  Alber, Martin: Wittgenstein und die Musik. Innsbruck 2000

  Barchilon, John: The Crown Prince. New York 1984

  Barta, Erwin: Die grossen Konzertdirektionen im Wiener Konzerthaus, 1913-1945 Frankfurt am Main 2001

  Bartley, William Warren III: Wittgenstein. Philadelphia 1973

  Beaumont, Anthony (ed.): Alma Mahler-Werfel: Diaries 1898-1902. Ithaca 1999

  Beller, Steven: Vienna and the Jews 1867-1938. Cambridge 1989

  Beller, Steven: A Concise History of Austria. Cambridge 2006

  Bernhard, Thomas: Wittgenstein's Nephew, trans. Ewald Osers. London 1986

  Black, Max: A Companion to Wittgenstein's Tractatus. Cambridge 1964

  Botstein, Leon and Hanak, Werner (eds): Vienna, Jews and the City of Music. Annandale 2004

  Brandstrom, Elsa: Among Prisoners of War in Russia and Siberia. London 1929

  Bree, Malwine: The Leschetizky Method. New York 1913

  Brook, Donald: Masters of the Keyboard. London 1946

  Brook-Shepherd, Gordon: Anschluss: The Rape of Austria. London 1963

  Burghard, Frederic F.: Amputations. Oxford 1920

  Carroll, Brendan G.: The Last Prodigy: A Biography of E. W Korngold. Portland 1997

 

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