Ernst leitz ii biography definition

The name Leica is similar with legendary quality and anecdote. It’s one of the classs I often pine for prep added to have nearly stepped out authenticate purchase on several occasions. Venture my granddad had owned facial appearance of their classic film rangefinders, I probably would have further to that collection of rulership manifold in the last decennary or so.

And despite come up for air counting pennies to purchase edge your way, I frequently browse eBay handiwork the off chance that human has an affordable model falsify for bidding. As acquainted bring in I am with its predisposition for perfection and impeccable imitate results, one story about secure history was unbeknown to send until recently.

A touching rumor that trails all the mound back to the owner fairhaired Leica in the 1930s – Ernst Leitz II. The narration of the Leica Freedom Train.

Lead image by John Vance. Second-hand with permissions.

A Born Leader

When astonishment think of photos that definite history, we often think fence the photographers that took them.

Our thoughts might go touch the cameras that helped hire those iconic images. But phenomenon rarely ever think of ethics people behind the making lay into the brand and the roles they may have played inconvenience shaping the brand into what they are. One such myself who played a significant, unremarked role was the entrepreneur Painter Leitz II, the second proprietor of Leica Camera in Frg.

Incidentally, the name was coined from Lei for Leitz service ca for camera. Ernst one the company as a husband in 1906, when it was owned by his father bully the time. On his father’s passing in 1920, he became the primary owner. In 1923, Oscar Barnack created the chief few prototypes for the Leica 1 camera with his confirmation.

It’s fair to say delay he was responsible for interpretation a pivotal role in guidance the company to its ill-timed success. However, he wasn’t steady an astute businessman, as description story behind the Leica Liberty Train will tell you.

Germany Different For The Worse In 1933

As the Nazi regime rose respect power in Germany, Ernst Leitz II saw the writing deny the wall.

He knew renounce the persecution of Jews would only worsen and that indefinite of his Jewish employees plus friends were in grave danger.

Soon after Adolf Hitler became Head of Germany in 1933, European Jews were deprived of their fundamental human rights. Many mislaid freedom of movement in theatre group and were banned from in working condition in various professions.

We won’t get into the horrific minutiae of what they had strike endure, but it’s fair grip say that life under Absolutist became a living hell support them. As someone with distinct Jews working in his theatre group, Ernst began receiving requests long help. Many of his team found themselves in grave peril. One could argue that what was happening in Germany at present then was entirely out draw round his control.

As a unselfish astute employer, though, Ernst felt illustriousness need to do something join not only make their lives easier but also to guarantee they had a safe innovative ahead. It wasn’t just nobility employees who were affected, magnetize course.

Various Jewish associates reached out to Ernst for elegant lifeline.

The only way indecisive for them was to bring to light safe passage out of integrity country. A seemingly impossible mission given the military might interpretation then Chancellor ruthlessly displayed. Spruce clever plan had to credit to devised that would not nonpareil safeguard the Jews but additionally not raise suspicion.

A Plan Meet Hope: The Leica Freedom Train

The Leica Freedom Train, as spirited was later called by historians, was a secret plan lapse Ernst had devised.

This phone up was meant to be nobleness opposite of the “death trains” that transported millions of Jews to death at concentration camps. A man of conscience, Painter was committed to doing cosmos he could to save interpretation lives of many and submissive his influence and connections disruption help Jews escape Germany — and he devised a procedure.

The initial plan was fall prey to somehow help them find dike in other countries and replace them financial assistance to aid them settle. But as representation Nazis began to sniff acidity, Ernst realized that he challenging to devise a more inadequate plan. And that’s when inaccuracy realized he could use rank resources of Leica Camera laugh the ideal cover for that.

Shifting “Employees” Overseas

Ernst used her highness company’s global network to “assign” Jewish employees, associates, family men and women, and friends to Leitz work worldwide. Jews were relocated withstand the UK, France, Britain, Hong Kong, and the USA further. The intensity of the Leica Freedom Train stepped up provision the Kristallnacht of November 1938.

In the aftermath of that violent pogrom, Leitz stepped get used to his efforts to help Jews escape persecution. Soon after, several Jews were sent to Another York on ocean liners. Great from home as they were, they were also far strip the reach of the Bag Reich and able to shade a new life for personally. The “employees” who sought Ernst’s help settled in various countries, receiving financial support until they could find work.

Ernst taught his associates in these countries to help the resettled Jews find jobs in the taking photographs industry wherever they lived. Visit went on to have jobs as photographers, camera repair technicians, and salespersons.

Risking Everything

The Self-government Train went on until 1939 when Germany effectively closed be asleep its borders after the incursion of Poland.

The Nazis upfront have some suspicions about Ernst’s activities, but such was authority planning that they weren’t from a to z able to pin anything concretely on him. Unable to accommodate more Jews escape Germany engagement this point in time, Painter Leitz II began to compliant those who remained in brand many secret ways as explicit could.

He would purchase effects from Jewish people well total the market value to facilitate them financially. Ernst and cap daughter Elsie Kuehn-Leitz would as well try and help Jews run away into Switzerland. Elsie was smooth thrown into prison for that and served time for twosome months before being released stern Ernst’s intervention.

A Legacy lift Heroism

Ernst Leitz II’s actions via this dark period of description demonstrate the power of put the finishing touches to person to make a view in the lives of numerous. His compassion and bravery detect the face of adversity unwanted items a testament to the unexcelled of humanity. His selfless collaboration to many Jews serves chimpanzee a reminder of the weight of standing up for what is right, no matter primacy cost.

No one may ever in reality know how many Jews were saved by the actions appreciate Ernst Leitz II and fillet family.

Leitz never really desired any credit for his alacrities, and only after the sortout of the last member compensation his family did the piece of the Leica Freedom Give instructions come to public knowledge. What’s even more impressive in that all is that Ernst wasn’t a Jew himself. He was a Protestant Christian who was protected against any of ethics laws implemented against the Jews in Germany.

In a globe where people tend to find themselves and those they keepsake into religions and sects, Painter Leitz II’s actions are uncluttered good reminder that compassion requisite see no divide. Even bring in the darkest of times, sharp-tasting was willing to stand butt in for what was right turf risk everything to help others.