Re: A room for everybody

[Stark <astark@suffolk.lib.ny.us>]

Mr Bearden: Well Said......   A.Stark

On Sun, 24 Nov 1996, Alan Bearden wrote:

> At 08:56 AM 6/24/96 +0200, you wrote:
> >Leitz, a German company, continued producing cameras and lenses during the
> >Nazi years. No doubt. (snipped)
> >
> >Leitz also gave Leica's to German Jews to help them financially in getting
> >out of the country. Many personal relations of Leica managers, specially
> >with friends in the USA and in the UK were cut off. This was an important
> >issue as Haus Friedwart in Wetzlar, where Ernst Leitz II lived, was a place
> >were not only business relations but also many artists of those days stayed.
> >After the war, the denazification process at Leitz was rapid
> >
> >All in all, I don't think that the fact that the Neurenberg crowd
> >photographed with Leica's meant that the Leitz Wetzlar people were close to
> >these sicko's.
> >
> >Gerard Captijn,
> >Geneva, Switzerland.
> >__________________________________________________
> >INTERNET PROVIDER: GROUPE VTX
> >                   CH-1009 PULLY
> >
> >MAIL TO: info@vtx.ch
> >
> ---------
>
> Yes, I am personally acquainted with the use of Leica cameras as a means for
> German Jews to take something of value out of the country -- no money, gold,
> diamonds, etc. were allowed.  The very first Leica I used (IIIa) was one a
> German
> Jewish physicist gave my father in exchange for a year's lodging in 1935-36.
> I used this camera and an assortment of screw mount lenses 'til I sold it for an
> M3 in 1956.
>
> Both Leitz and Agfa management were very responsible in helping Jews escape the
> Nazi menance in the 1930s; Agfa even assigned some of its Jewish people to their
> operations in other countries (Agfa/Ansco, Agfa India, Agfa UK, etc.).
>
> I think associated Leica with Nazi horrors is akin to blaming Beethoven for
> Hitler.
>
> Let's get back to Leicas and most importantly, improving our photography
> through understanding our tools.
>
> Alan Bearden
>