71-18,093 SUMICHRAST, Marika Elisabeth, 1931- THOMAS MANN AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. CPortions of Text in German]. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1970 Language and Literature, modern University Microfilms, A XEROX Company , Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1971 Marika Elisabeth Sumichrast ALL RIGHTS RESERVED >vi uic orru T.Mt;n EYArTT.Y AS RECEIVED THOMAS MANN AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA DISSERTATION Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Marika Elisabeth Sumichrast The Ohio State University 1970 Approved by S d b "It Adviser Department of German THE STUDY'S PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION In the lives of great men there are often periods which are little known to the public. Usually, these gaps exist because the particular periods are considered of little consequence. However, a singular lack of precise information has existed about an important aspect in the life of Thomas Mann: his relationship with Czechoslovakia. The purpose of this research was to shed light on this period by determining what motivated his quest for Czechoslovak citizenship; where and when he visited that country; what his feelings were toward the people of Czechoslovakia; how he was received by the public, press, literary critics; and the nature of his friendship with Karel Sapek, the foremost Czechoslovak literary figure. In the course of assembling the information and material relevant to Thomas Mann's relationships with Czechoslovakia and its literary, governmental, and political figures, it became quickly evident that several courses could be pursued in its organization. Consideration was given to the many organizational paths open to me. Chosen, finally, however was the chronicle form of narrative as the major framework. In this decision I relied heavily on the perceptive advice of my professor at Ohio State University. It was felt that only through the chronicle form could a critical in-depth assessment by Czechoslovak circles of Mann and his work over the years be presented with the merit and order both warranted. Therefore, ii this narrative first sets the stage of Thomas Mann’s involuntary Journey into exile, how he arrived at that turning point, and why haven was extended by Czechoslovakia. From there, it relates in chronological order Mann’s first impact, in the pre-World War I years, on the Czech intelligentsia and public and thence through the post World War II years— a period of approximately 35 years. iii PROCUREMENT OF MATERIAL FOR THE STUDY The period of research and writing of the Thomas Mann manuscript encompassed almost seven years. Innumerable obstacles, made the more formidable by both geographic distance and changing political situations, had to be overcome and, consequently, added to the length of time in the gathering of material by whatever avenue was possible under differing circumstances. The magnitude of these obstacles was scarcely anticipated when research was begun in 196*4. During the "Novotn^ era” in Czechoslovakia, for instance, little cooperation was received from officials of Czech Archives and libraries. As the political atmosphere began to change, the official attitude became more liberal and cooperation became more willing. This spirit of cooperation began in the latter part of 196?, and the flow of communication between author and sources in Czechoslovakia reached its height in 1968. During the latter part of 1968, there was a return to the former conservative political situation and cooperation dwindled. Personal contact in Czechoslovakia itself was out of the question; I therefore had to rely on the friendship and good-will of Czech visitors to the United States. Thus I gained access to private sources necessary for the research who, upon their return, provided me with most valuable information. Bibliographical data may not be as explicit as it would have been tinder ordinary circumstances. Indeed, existing bibliographies of the pre-World War II era were found to be incomplete, both in Czechoslovakia iv and the United States. Extensive research for this study was conducted in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and other capital libraries and by visits to the libraries in other cities; through personal interviews of Czech visitors and residents in the United States; written communication with persons in Germany, Great Britain, and other countries; and from information supplied to me from persons who at my behest made personal visits to Prague and Bratislava to collect data. Library Research A systematic search was conducted of documents such as daily newspapers, periodicals, Journals, and other written materials available in the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, the University of Chicago Library, and the Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, the Archives in Washington, D.C., were searched. For the period before the first World War, little essential material was available. The period of the late 1920s was somewhat better represented. Thomas Mann's visits to Czechoslovakia in the 1930s were generously covered in the news sections of the Czech and German daily press. The number of daily newspapers, periodicals, and journals which reported on Mann's activities grew larger in the immediate pre-World War II era. It has been possible to locate nearly all secondary literature on Thomas Mann published in the post war period. v Interviews People who either knew Thomas Mann or were familiar with the political and cultural life of Czechoslovakia encompassing the period of this study were interviewed. Of these, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, I wish to mention: Professor Ren£ Wellek of Yale University. Johannes Urzid.il, author, now living in New York City. Professor George Pistorius, Williams College, Massachusetts. Professor William E. Harkins, Chairman of Slavic Languages, Columbia University, New York City. Professor Zdenek David, Curator, Slavic Collection, Princeton University, New Jersey. Dr. Ladislav K. Feierabend, Washington, D.C., formerly Minister of Economics of Czechoslovakia, now Editor, Radio Free Europe, Dr. P. L. Horecky, Assistant Chief and East European Specialist, Slavic and Central European Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Professor Antonin Hruby, Department of German, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Matej Josko, formerly Czechoslovak Minister of Finance, Washington, D.C. Dr. Vaclav Laska, Librarian, University of Chicago. Dr. Vladimir Palic, Librarian, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Dr. Jan Papfinek, formerly Czechoslovak Representative to the United Nations, now retired, New York City. Dr. Miloslav Rechcigl, National Institute of Health, Washington, D.C. Dr. JuraJ Slavik, formerly Secretary of Agriculture and Czechoslovak Ambassador to the United States of America, now retired, Washington, D.C. vi Josef Anderle, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Worth Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Peter Zenkl, formerly Vice President of Czechoslovakia, now retired, Washington, D.C. Direct Contact with Czechoslovak.!a Written contact was established with the University libraries in Prague and Bratislava. This was done directly and also through the good services of the President of the Special Libraries, Dr. Karl Baer, in Washington, D.C. Direct contact was made with the publishing house Artia, Prague, Statnf knihovna Ceskoslovenske Socialisticke Republiky (State Library of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic), Prague, Ostredna Kniznica Slovenskej Akad&nie Vied (Central Library of the Slovak Acadeny of Sciences), Bratislava, and Komenskeho University Library, Bratislava. Information was received from the former secretary to Karel Capek, Dr, Miroslav Halfk, Prague. Photocopies, notes, and information were received from Mr. Rudolf Fleischmann's daughter, Mrs. Milena Bains, who now lives in Preston, England. Personal Visits of Others to Prague A number of people who visited Prague or Bratislava while I was doing this research were asked to search archives and libraries for material pertinent to this topic. Most were natives of Czechoslovakia visiting the United States, and were asked to check some missing parts of materials or documents. Because of the political situation, their names are not being mentioned. However, they provided a part of the documentation needed to complete this study. vii Among materials gathered by these processes are interviews with Thomas Mann which were published in Czechoslovak publications^- on the occasion of Thomas Mann's visits; documents pertaining to Thomas Mann's naturalization as a Czechoslovak citizen and clarifying the roles of President Benes and Rudolf Fleischmann in these proceedings; certain materials casting light on Thomas Mann's personal relationship with Karel Capek; fuller documentation of Mann's visits to Prague, some of it correcting mistakes in previously published materials; Thomas Mann’s contributions to Czech publications; a bibliography of his works translated into Czech or Slovak, and a review of the reception of Thomas Mann by Czech writers and critics. By "Czechoslovak publications" are meant periodicals and newspapers published either in the Czech or German languages in the Republic of Czechoslovakia. So the denigration "German Press" often refers, as will be clear from the context, to German-language publications in Czechoslovakia. viii VITA June 21, 1931......... B o m - Warsaw, Poland 1959 ............... B.A. and M.A., The Ohio State