9 8 V O L U M E 8 , D O C U M E N T 3 6 0 b
erwarte ihn gerade hier. Zangger ist heute nach Winterthur; er kommt heute um 4
Uhr zu mir ins Hotel. Ich werde mich keinesfalls wohin einladen lassen, ausser zu
Besso, wenn seine Frau verreist bleibt, und er allein mit Bedienung hier
ist.[5]
Weissbrod gibt es auch hier nicht, aber ausgezeichnetes Einheitsbrot, doppelt so
teuer als im Frieden das Weissbrot. Ernährungsverhältnisse etwa wie bei uns im er-
sten
Kriegsjahr.[6]
Ausser jenem kurzen Telephongespräch mit Zangger sprach ich
noch mit
niemand;[7]
nur die vertraute Lokalität hat mich angeheimelt. Meine Mut-
ter hofft immer noch stark hierher zu
kommen.[8]
Von dort aus scheint es leichter
zu sein.
Wenn mein Drama Fortschritte gemacht hat, berichte ich
wieder.[9]
Einstweilen
Küsse von Deinem
Albert.
AKS. [143 041]. The verso is addressed “Frau Elsa Einstein Haberlandstr. 5 Berlin (Schöneb.),” with
return address “Abs. A. Einstein Zürich (Augustinerhof),” and postmarked “Zürich 1 Briefvers[d]
9.VII 1917. IX–X.”
[1]The previous time he had crossed the border into Switzerland in April 1916, Einstein had been
subjected to a search of his luggage and was asked to remove some of his clothing (see Vol. 8,
Doc. 209a, in the present volume).
[2]Conrad Habicht (1876–1958), Einstein’s friend from the “Olympia Academy” in Bern, was a
physics teacher in Schaffhausen; the sons were Conrad (1914–1988), Walter (*1915), and Ernst
(1916–1993).
[3]Heinrich Zangger.
[4]Hans Albert had been living with the Zangger family since the end of April (see Heinrich Zang-
ger to Einstein, 20 May 1917 [Vol. 8, Doc. 342]).
[5]Einstein had decided to limit the amount of visits he made due to the condition of his health (see
Vol. 8, Doc. 359a, note 6, in the present volume). Michele Besso and his wife, Anna Besso-Winteler.
[6]On the winter famine of 1916–1917 in Germany, see Vol. 8, Doc. 261a, note 5, in the present
volume. Due to the malnutrition of the general populace in Berlin, Zangger had been sending monthly
packages to Einstein with foodstuffs (see Einstein to Heinrich Zangger, 10 March 1917 [Vol. 8,
Doc. 309]).
[7]Possibly a vague reassurance that he had not spoken to his wife, Mileva.
[8]Pauline Einstein’s Swiss hopes are also mentioned in the preceding document.
[9]Two months earlier, Einstein had written Michele Besso that his sister, Maja Winteler-Einstein,
in Lucerne, would take in Hans Albert, regardless of Mileva Einstein-Maric;’s wishes; he had decided
that it would not be a good idea to raise Hans Albert in Berlin (see Einstein to Michele Besso, 7 May
1917 [Vol. 8, Doc. 335]). Einstein was also very concerned about the increasing medical expenses of
Mileva and Eduard and the living expenses of his mother, Pauline, all of which he was funding (see
Einstein to Michele Besso, 15 May 1917 [Vol. 8, Doc. 340]).
Vol. 8, 360b. To Elsa Einstein
[Zurich,] Dienstag. [10 July 1917]
Liebe Else!
Der Albert hat sich prächtig entwickelt, kerngesund, heiter, voll Interesse, intel-
ligent, bescheiden; ich bin
beglückt.[1]
Samstag reisen wir nach
Arosa;[2]
unterdes-