LEICA AND THE JEWS
The Leica is the pioneer 35mm camera. It is a German product - precise, minimalist, and utterly efficient.
Behind its worldwide acceptance as a creative tool was a family-owned, socially oriented firm that, during the Nazi era, acted with uncommon grace, generosity and modesty. E. Leitz Inc., designer and manufacturer of Germany 's most famous photographic product, saved its Jews.
And Ernst Leitz II, the steely-eyed Protestant patriarch who headed the closely held firm as the Holocaust loomed across Europe, acted in such a way as to earn the title,
"the photography industry's Schindler."
As soon as Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933, Ernst Leitz II began receiving frantic calls from Jewish associates, asking for his help in getting them and their families out of the country. As Christians, Leitz and his family were immune to Nazi Germany's Nuremberg laws, which restricted the movement of Jews and limited their professional activities.
To help his Jewish workers and colleagues, Leitz quietly established what has become known among historians of the Holocaust as "the Leica Freedom Train," a covert means of allowing Jews to leave Germany in the guise of Leitz employees being assigned overseas.
The problem with such topics is that historic matters are hard to evaluate from the hindsight of a younger generation, that general knowledge on history is rather limited, that iconic titles as "freedom train" easily make it into media and that evidence is hard to find.
Yes. Those stories, especially the hints at Schindler and the hints at prosecution put the emphasis on escape. But in those years emmigration of jewish people was actually encouraged.
Yes. Those stories, especially the hints at Schindler and the hints at prosecution put the emphasis on escape. But in those years emmigration of jewish people was actually encouraged.
The problem with such topics is that historic matters are hard to evaluate from the hindsight of a younger generation, that general knowledge on history is rather limited, that iconic titles as "freedom train" easily make it into media and that evidence is hard to find.
.. And i often think, when the last holocaust survivor dies, not so many years from now, who would believe such a thing ever happened in reality? As we live in a visual world today where most if not all imagery is manufactured, it would be a hard stretch to try and make someone believe what actually happened with evidence that is hard to find.
I wish I could share your optimism.
And even if truth (even in all its complexity) would always be there: History is repeating itself, just different.
Thus I often wonder what the use of (my) bothering with historic matters is...
And even if truth (even in all its complexity) would always be there: History is repeating itself, just different.
Thus I often wonder what the use of (my) bothering with historic matters is...
When the last of the soldiers to liberate the camps is gone, the last person who whitnessed the trials is gone the last second generation offspring is gone (not long in to the future now) these stories will be no more then a bad horror movie that "is only possible in holywood" type of thing. There is nothing that can avert that.
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