Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/11/24

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Subject: Re: A Room for Everybody
From: Dan Cardish <dcardish@spherenet.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 18:29:34 -0400

At 01:08 PM 24/11/96 -0500, Marc wrote:

[snip]

>Well, I don't believe Leitz GAVE cameras to refugees:  I believe refugees
>BOUGHT cameras to take with them as they were not allowed to take many of
>the more conventional forms of valuata (cash, art, watches, jewelry, specie,
>&c &c).

[snip]

My recollection of the story (I heard it over 20 years ago, so I may be in
error) was that the cameras were given to the Jewish employess in lieue of
wages for the express purpose of defeating laws preventing refugees from
removing more conventional valuables from the country.  I think the main
point was that Leitz was actively involved with the plan, if my memory
serves me.  I did not know until now of the anti-nazi stand taken by Ernst
Leitz II and Else Kuehn-Leitz.  Foolishness is a difficult word to use in
this context.  Is it foolish to take a heroic stand against an oppressive
regime?  Maybe, but if there were more foolish people in Germany during the
Nazi years...

Dan C.