tony_rocha Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 I came across this interesting story while researching on the Kuhn Flexameter, and thought to share it with you: http://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/arts/oct02/86006.asp. It may be general knowledge in the Leica community, but it is new for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 It proves, if further proof were needed, that not all Germans were Nazis and that some were prepared to stand up to the swine. The problem was that too many were prepared to just stay quiet and accept what they saw as the benefits the Nazis offered and then complained like hell when they had to pay the bill in 1945. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Williams Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 <html><head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> <title></title></head><body>Not directly related, but these links at the <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/">CRR</a> site (from a BritishIntelligence report in 1946) give an interesting picture of conditionsat Leitz in the immediate post-war period, as well as a technicaldescription of IIIc production:<br><br><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page26.html">http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page26.html</a><br><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page27.html">http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page27.html</a><br><br>(<span style="font-style: italic;">'The Leitz factory is a well-runhappy organisation, this being due in no small measure to the familynature of the business and to its importance in the neighbourhood.Discipline is strict without being severe and one gets the impressionof great interest by employees of every grade in the work beingperformed. This pride in workmanship and the just pride all have intheir world-wide reputation for quality work is the permeating spiritof the place and helps greatly to offset apathy caused by the presentdismal state of the country. The products coming from the Leitz worksare equal to any turned out before the war although in some cases thefinish is inferior due to poor materials, especially paints andenamels. The team came away with the impression that the Leica camerais still worthy of its pre-eminent position and that the skill of thecraftsmen is very much in evidence in the Leitz factory.'</span>) <br></body></html> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Fascinating stuff. I had only ever heard a little about Elsie Kuhn-Leitz being jailed, in, I think, an old Leica Fotografie, date unknown. Thanks, folks; anybody know any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majid Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Actually, comparing them to Schindler is not a compliment as Schindler originally started as an opportunist member of the Nazi party, whereas the Leitz family had a long tradition of social consciousness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.Give Schindler a break. As an opportunist, He saw the opportunity to do something human and took it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 An interesting proposition - a moral dimension to your camera's manufacturer. Perhaps I should buy a Leica? Currently I have a Nikon. We all know that Nippon Kogaku was involved in the war in making rangefinders for warships, and the Japanese Army. Therefore, whereas the Leicas are morally virtuous, can we say that Japanese cameras are immoral and genocidal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Well, for good or ill; Many Leica owners feel virtuous; It's just pride; but hang on, pride's a sin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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