[Leica] Leica and National Socialism (Sort of on topic - ish)

[kitmc at vuelux.com (Kit McChesney | Vuelux)]

Yes, this is true, and the film (One Camera, One Life) is in production now.
Mark DePaola, the director, is a wonderful person, an avid Leica aficionado,
and promises to make a very balanced, moving film about the Leitz family's
attempts (many successful) to help many persecuted people escape the Nazis.
Before the war, in the 30s, they signed on many people as reps for Leica and
sent them out of the country, many to the United States. They also hired and
trained people to work in the factory to help protect them. Leitz' daughter
Elsie was also arrested by the Gestapo for helping a Jewish woman try to
escape to Switerland (she was caught), and was ransomed back by the family.
There are several books/booklets on the subject, two of them authored by
Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith. 

The story sounds a bit like Schindler's, except that the Leitz family had a
familial loyalty to their employees that was already legendary long before
the war. There are survivors of the Holocaust who were directly aided by
Leitz, and their stories are part of the film. 

Kit
-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+kitmc=vuelux.com@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+kitmc=vuelux.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Beddoe,
Neil
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 7:45 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'; 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: [Leica] Leica and National Socialism (Sort of on topic - ish)

I found the following link on the web which has some interesting history
that I wasn't aware of.

www.nemeng.com/leica/005eb.shtml 

I have no idea if any of it is accurate but I would like to believe it's
true.

While we are on the subject of Nazi supporters or otherwise, has anyone ever
though about sending a mission to destroy the Voyager spacecraft before the
aliens get to hear Kurt Waldheim's voice?  Perhaps we could redirect one of
the Hasselblads floating around in orbit and send it off in hot pursuit.
Imagine how effective a Hasselblad travelling at 45,000 mph would be.

Neil

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