Been looking at Leitz & Leica binoculars online & whilst doing that came across this story I hadn't heard of before. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_Freedom_Train http://v1.zonezero.com/magazine/articles/leica/ http://www.aish.com/ho/p/49082441.html Few other bits out there about it but just thought I'd mention it .
good day owen,super moderators,yesterday.07:54pm.re:leica freedom traim.i had heard of the leica camera.and binoculars,but never about the family businiss.when we were young we all aspired to owning a leica camera and plenty came on the market as troops came home on leave.each had a tale to tell.they charged to much for me .so i never ownd one.but the story of the family .they were fifty years ahead in the treatment of there work force.as for helping the jews they took a big chance on there own lives,a very interesting post.great links.regards bernard85
Thanks for those great links Owen - never heard of it before. Though we did once have a Leica camera. I wonder how many they saved?
link about the Leica tunnels below http://untappedcities.com/2014/07/24/the-tunnels-in-wetzlar-germany-used-by-the-leica-company-to-rescue-jews-in-wwii-germany/
Fascinating, but imagine having to work in those tunnels! To answer my own question above, I read on another link that the company saved 50 Jews to the USA, and 23 elsewhere.
Initially it all sounded very good until I read that these were mostly his own skilled employees he was saving; not exactly unmixed motives judging by appearances. As for the slave laborers who Leitz used, one wonders how they were treated? How you treat those most useful to you and how you treat those who have no claim on your humanity except their own, those are often very different things.
Thanks Owen for drawing our attention to this lesser known story about the Leica fanily I am also reminded that during the period when the BBC People's War was active we had some pretty gripping stories relating to the Holocaust and I was pleased to see that I responded at the time http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/08/a6573008.shtml Ron
Thank you for your cynicism, a healthy trait to keep us balanced. Perhaps you might like to expand on the subject you raised, like timelines, who was in charge, numbers of "genuine" workers, numbers of slave labourers, how they were treated (if I may borrrow your own words) and by whom?