Leica III, WWII acquisition?

Years ago, I purchased a Leica III camera at an estate sale in Florida. The daughter of the deceased, told

me her father brought the camera back from Germany after WWII. According to her, her father was in the

Army First Infantry Division and found the Leica in an SS barracks at a German concentration camp. I

would have bought this camera even without buying the story, but I have always wondered if it was true.

After just watching a History Channel episode about the 'Big Red One', I saw that they actually did liberate

a Nazi concentration camp called Falkenau, so I dug out the camera from storage and took another look

at it.

 

There is nothing I can see that would support the clammed provenance but I do notice the leather case

has E.LEITZ, WETZLAR and nearby, 'Germany' stamped on the back. Wouldn't a Leica case sold in Germany

for the European market be stamped with Deutschland instead of Germany? The serial number on the

camera is No 142036 and it is stamped Ernst Leitz Wetzlar D.R.P.

Robert,

 

From the serial number it is a Leica III from 1934. The provenance you suggest can't be ruled out but it can be very difficult to establish. Perhaps you should check with Leitz to see what they have in the files.

 

Good luck. I think that it is important to explore and preserve the history of these cameras even though it may be difficult.

 

David

The laws requiring the marking of the country of origin were US (and possibly British), so the marking was done in English.

 

The obvious signs of a domestic-market Leica are focusing scale in meters, and a 3/8" diameter tripod socket on the bottom. Of course, both of those parts are freely interchangeable...

If the serial is correct than there is nothing holding it back that it can be true. Leica's were for sale in Germany for the ordinary people too (those who could pay the price of course) and I can imagine that some SS soldiers brought there camera's with them while stationed at the camps. Although it was forbidden to take unofficial photographs of the camp itself many used it to take snapshots of their SS buddies or pets (and some used it to acutally photographs the things that went on in the camps although they could (in theory) be severly punished for it). I'm affraid it will be impossible to prove it that it really came from suchs a place but then again, why should her father lie about it, many soldiers took trophies back home and a Leica wouldn't be any less that a Luger for instance.

With collectible arms, the motto is "sell the gun, not the story". That is, unless there is tangible proof such as official bring back papers for that Luger.

 

Same goes for the Leica IMO.

It is also worth considering that many "memories" about what people did during WWII seem to become enhanced over the years. Now that I have his military files, I find that some of the things which my late father told my sister and me he did are contradicted by written records (and much did happen that he didn't tell us). The post-war Leicas and Rolleis which regularly appear on $bay with stories from heirs about their capture in 1944-45 would seem to indicate that this is not an isolated case.

Quite a few concentration camps were liberated by US troops. Also, there were much more such camps than you would imagine - there were smaller camps on factory areas etc.

 

Anyhow, your item (if the story is true) seems to be a "civilian" Leica. Leicas delivered to the SS usually were marked "RSHA" (Reichssicherheitshauptamt, "imperial head office for security"). The s/n of your camera dates back to a batch of chrome Leica III manufactured in 1934 when Leicas were still sold to the public.

 

Also, all Leicas had a "Germany" engraving, although the style (and position) of this engraving changed several times.

Winfried, I love your insight. It never fails to amaze me how you stop a lot of guessing cold in its tracks.

Thank you all for your input. In posting here, my expectation was never to prove the account the woman in Florida shared with me. That, I am certain, is quite impossible to do. However, I do feel that the story is possibly true, given what you have told me. I believe the grief stricken daughter in Florida was telling me the truth as she knew it, but I agree, as someone pointed out, that some old solders might embellish or even fabricate their war experiences.

Thanks again; it was very interesting.

As were quite a few cameras "liberated" from their owner's private homes :)

As an old soldier myself, I would note:

 

THE OLDER I GET... THE BETTER I WAS.

 

Chers from (rainy) Southern Maryland.