[Leica] E. Leitz in WWII

["A S Jordan" <andrewsjordan@worldnet.att.net>]

An interesting question for many admirers of German engineering and art is
the role of  E. Leitz in World War II. I understand from some dependable
sources, such as Andy and Eli at Wall Street Camera, that the management of
the company    was helpful to the persecuted. While they were producing
cameras and other optical instruments for the miltary, the company was
essentially apolitical.
This view is confirmed to some extent by "Kleinfilm-Foto"  published between
1931-1942, being the forerunner of "Leica Fotografie", edited by the
legendary  Curt Emmermann. Recently, I obtained  a beautiful reprint in four
volumes  of this magazine, published by Schliemann Verlag in Hamburg in
1981. Time  and the large volume of LUG messages permitting, I have spent
many evenings browsing through these volumes of Leitz facts and wonderful
black and white photographs. Remarkably, there is no reference to Hitler and
to the ongoing War. The only allusion to the situation is some photos of Red
Cross nurses attending  the wounded.
If any correspondents of the LUG have some comments of E. Leitz's role in
these  tragic  war years, I and perhaps other Leica camera enthusiasts would
like to read their comments.
Regards, Andrew Jordan