Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jeff & others, I believe that it is important to remember that in WWII atrocities , large and small, were committed by both sides. But, since history is written by the victor, we in the US only hear about those committed by the other side. Also, the title of this thread is a bit misleading. The cameras were not manufactures by the Nazis. They just happened to be produced (for both the US and German Military) during the time when the Social Democratic party was in power. Bill - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jeffrey Frankel" wrote: I had an unusual incident at work a few months ago. I was discussing my LTM camera in the maintenance department of my plant when an electrical contractor came in a listened in. An elderly Polish man, he smiled and asked if I would like to see his screw mount. I said sure. About two weeks later he returned with a fairly beat up IIIA (?I think) with an uncoated 50 elmar. He went on to tell me the following story (paraphrased): He had just taken an SS officer as prisoner and found the camera on his posession. When the prisoner swore at him in German (Not realizing that he spoke German), he took him out back, told him he would not need the camera any more, and shot him in the head. I just stared at the camera in my hands, as a wave of revulsion came over me. The quiet calm of that well used piece of German photographic perfection was shattered by the reality of the story. I handed the camera back to him and washed my hands as soon as I was out of the room. Boy, It's good to get that off my chest. Saved me a visit to the therapist. Jeff __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com