Nov. 8, 1968

Mr Erich Maria Remarque

Porto Ronco

Locarno

Dear Mr Remarque,

Perhaps you know me by name, and if not, I would like to give you a brief profile.

I am the director of the Jewish Documentation Center in Vienna. I used to be an architect in Poland and the Soviet Union and I am one of the few survivors from Lviv.

After the war, I did not return to my profession, but I believed that by dedicating myself to the service of justice for a while, I could find my lost faith again. At the time, I could not have imagined that this would become a task that would last for the rest of my life.

I wrote several books after the war and have now completed a new one dedicated to the problem of forgiveness. The manuscript consists of only 120 pages and describes a true experience that brings forth the entire issue.

I would like to accompany this book with statements by famous personalities who have something to say on the subject, both as theologians of various denominations and as writers. So far I have statements from Friedrich Heer, Albrecht Goes, Manès Sperber, Abraham Heschel, Bruins Slot, Ernst Simon, Carl Zuckmayer, Golo Mann; Rolf Hochhuth, Arthur Koestler, René Cassin and Max Brod Habe have promised statements.

I am taking the liberty of sending you the manuscript with the same mail and asking you, if your time permits, to read it and send me your statement.

I realise that since I lack the experience of a writer, you may be disappointed by the way I have presented the story, but I hope you will nevertheless accept my request.

Yours sincerely

[not signed]

Erich Maria Remarque

Porto Ronco S. Ascona Schweiz

Dec. 2, 1968

Dear Mr Wiesenthal,

Thank you very much for your letter and the manuscript. I would like to write to you something about it, but I would ask you to be patient; I am ill and have to be taken to Rome for treatment. It will be several weeks, perhaps even months, before I am back again.

I have always had great sympathy for your important (and unfortunately lonely) work and would just like to tell you today that it cannot be important enough to shake up the (always sleepy and forgetful) world conscience, not to mention the German one. That is what you have done and I hope you will continue to do so!

With all good wishes your

Erich Maria Remarque

Mar. 28, 1969

Mr Erich Maria Remarque

Hotel de la Ville

Via Sistina

Rome

Dear and esteemed Mr Remarque,

On 2 December you wrote to me that you are willing to write a statement on my manuscript. You let me know that you were going to Rome and hoped to be able to do so in a few weeks.

I learnt your Roman address from a telephone call to your home. Above all, I would like to express my hope that my letter will reach you in good health and in good condition.

I have also informed the various publishers of my book of your willingness to write a statement, who have of course received this news with delight. In the meantime, I have received comments from a number of well-known personalities, including René Cassin, Primo Levi and many others.

I permit myself to ask whether your health allows you to write a few typewritten pages of commentary at this stage. With my best wishes and warm regards

Your very devoted

[not signed]