Characters
Berger
Berger stands as an Aryan shopkeeper who becomes the Klemperers’ tenant when they are compelled to vacate their home and relocate to the Jewish ghetto. While he laments the unfavorable circumstances thrust upon them, he harbors a sense of relief and gratitude for his own fortune. Sympathetic to the beleaguered couple, he extends kindness by gifting them honey, a forbidden luxury for Jews under Nazi decree.
Harry Dember
Harry Dember, a physicist and companion to the Klemperers, is consumed by anxiety. He perceives the Jewish community as clinging to the hope of salvation through external intervention, such as an invasion or a German defeat. Bitter and pessimistic, Dember eventually finds refuge in a position at the University of Constantinople in Turkey.
Eva Klemperer
Eva Klemperer, the devoted Aryan wife of Klemperer, stands resolute against societal and political pressures to abandon her Jewish spouse. Her loyalty remains steadfast through the harrowing years of war. Though a gifted concert pianist, her physical maladies and emotional tribulations often keep her from her art. She finds solace in the dreams of a cottage they aspire to build in Dölzschen, immersing herself in gardening while they await the funds to realize their vision.
Throughout the narrative, Eva grapples with a multitude of health issues, from severe dental troubles to swollen ankles. Klemperer describes her frequent anxiety and bouts of hysteria. Yet, at the story's outset, she summons enough strength to labor over the landscaping of their future home. Although concerned for her well-being, Klemperer recognizes that this endeavor sparks her only glimmers of joy and allows her to continue. Eva is deeply fixated on their house project, and even when Klemperer worries about finances, he continues to invest in the home to nurture her hope. Upon returning home, exhausted, she leaves domestic chores to her husband.
Georg Klemperer
Georg, Klemperer's elder brother, is a prominent doctor who has taken refuge elsewhere in Europe. His sons reside in the United States, where Georg intends to join them if Europe's situation deteriorates. By 1935, he makes the move, only to confront the disappointment of age-related career limitations. He turns his efforts toward crafting his memoirs.
At pivotal moments, Georg provides Klemperer with much-needed financial assistance, yet he cannot fathom the fierce patriotism that binds his brother to Germany. Georg urges Klemperer to seek safety abroad, but Klemperer disregards the counsel, feeling misunderstood by his sibling.
Victor Klemperer
Victor Klemperer, the chronicler whose diaries form the entire text, is the son of a rabbi from a Reform synagogue, instilling him with liberal religious values. Alongside his brothers, he converts to Lutheranism in adulthood, a choice their father endorses. However, under Nazi rule, even a single Jewish grandparent renders one persecuted, and Klemperer finds himself ensnared by such laws. Yet, his marriage to Aryan Eva and his World War I service spare him from the concentration camps' horrors.
When his diary begins, Klemperer is a professor at Dresden Technical University, passionately lecturing and participating in academia. Over time, Nazi restrictions diminish his role, forcing early retirement as students are discouraged from attending his courses, and he is barred from administering exams. Meanwhile, he and Eva have acquired a small plot near Dresden, dreaming of a cottage. Initially, they enjoy a vibrant social life, but as friends depart the country, they depend increasingly on each other for companionship. An avid reader and writer, Klemperer delights in reading aloud to Eva, their discussions rich with intellectual depth. His diary captures his endeavors, including an academic survey of eighteenth-century French literature and a study on the Third Reich's linguistic manipulation—an analysis...
(This entire section contains 1330 words.)
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that later garners significant acclaim.
Klemperer articulates his fear of mortality with a nonchalant air, anticipating only a few remaining years. This prospect influences his approach to new pursuits. When overwhelmed by despair, he reminds himself of Eva's reliance on him, spurring efforts to secure finances, maintain their home, and strive for a better life. He endures numerous ailments and descends into depression, burdened by his dire circumstances.
Yet, despite the hardships, Klemperer assiduously documents his experiences (at great personal risk), detailing his thoughts and insights. His meticulous records of daily adversities provide his diary significant historical resonance. Additionally, the diary fulfills Klemperer's ambition of crafting a memoir, a dream he believes he never realized.
Johannes Köhler
Johannes Köhler, an Aryan man of profound integrity, shares a deep and meaningful bond with the Klemperers, a friendship that withstands tumultuous times. Passionate about history and religion, Johannes wrestles with a heavy conscience, burdened by the deplorable actions of government officials. He contemplates shifting his teaching focus to subjects like medicine or business, which feel less entangled with the pressing issues of the era. Klemperer humorously distinguishes Johannes and his wife as the "respectable" Köhlers due to their traditional marital status, contrasting them with another friend, Annemarie Köhler, who lives unconventionally. Despite their different backgrounds, Klemperer holds Johannes and his wife in high regard for their shared disdain towards Hitler’s oppressive regime.
Auguste Lazar
Auguste "Gusti" Lazar, a cherished friend of the Klemperers, is a vibrant author who crafts stories for the youth, weaving tales that captivate the imaginations of children and young adults alike. Known by her married name, Wieghardt, in Klemperer’s writings, she radiates optimism, initially confident that the Nazi regime’s days were numbered. Her hopeful predictions in 1935, however, eventually give way to the stark reality of its endurance, prompting her exile to England in 1939. A decade later, her journey comes full circle as she returns to Dresden.
Frau Lehmann
Frau Lehmann, the devoted maid of the Klemperers, faces the harsh decree forcing her to cease working for them due to their Jewish classification. Her fondness for the couple, however, endures, leading her to grace their evenings with her presence from time to time.
Lissy Meyerhof
Lissy Meyerhof, a resilient friend of the Klemperers, retains her role as a social worker through her commendable service as a nurse in World War I. Her industrious nature and unyielding optimism shine through as she supports the Klemperers during their confinement in the Jews’ House. Her care packages, filled with essentials like socks, coffee, and tea, are tokens of her enduring friendship.
Präatorius
Präatorius, the builder entrusted by the Klemperers to craft their home, remains patient as he waits for their financial readiness to commence construction. Once underway, his fairness and willingness to negotiate unforeseen expenses underscore his integrity and commitment to their vision.
Sandel
Sandel, a Polish Jew, deceives Klemperer by swindling him out of 240 marks, only to squander the money during a drunken spree. Convinced that their shared heritage should shield him from repercussions, Sandel assumes Klemperer will remain silent. Yet, Klemperer grapples with the dilemma of maintaining integrity versus loyalty. Reluctantly, he reports the theft, only to find the authorities powerless to reclaim his loss. Sandel's admission of spending the money with Nazi officials allows the matter to slip into oblivion, leaving Klemperer with a bittersweet sense of closure.
Jule Sebba
Jule Sebba, a steadfast friend of the Klemperers, prepares to relocate his family to Israel in pursuit of a new beginning. A lawyer and teacher in Germany, he dreams of establishing a candle-making business. Yet, upon arrival, his aspirations falter, and he ekes out a living through cello lessons and musical performances. Before his departure, he confides in Klemperer about the escalating dangers posed by the Nazi regime, forewarning of "unimaginable and bloody chaos." Despite the bleak outlook, his words resonate with the hope that after the regime's inevitable fall, a chance for rebuilding will arise.
Johannes Thieme
Johannes Thieme, once a beloved foster son to the Klemperers, shared their household from 1920 onwards. Affectionately addressing them as mother and father, his supportive presence takes a stark turn during his 1933 visit. When he expresses allegiance to the new regime, Klemperer, dismayed by Thieme's conformity and poor judgment, chooses to sever their ties, saddened by the young man’s misguided path.
