"I Hereby Declare: It Is Risked"

[Leica Sport Optics]

As a visionary entrepreneur and brave Nazi opponent, Ernst Leitz entered the German industrial history. But the pioneer of the legendary Leica was also a passionate hunter and tested the optical equipment in his own area.
The year in which Hessian entrepreneur Ernst Leitz Junior meets the most decisive decision of his career is not easy for Germany. The Weimar Republic can hardly be reigned, the communists and national socialists are paralyzing the young democracy, even after two Reichstag elections, no clear majorities are reached. The mass chaos and the impoverishment of entire social strata prevail, the economic chaos of hyperinflation still has an effect after the introduction of the new Reichsmark.

Ernst Leitz junior


But 1924 is also a year of technical excitement: the broadcasting world is advancing through the German living rooms, the electrical engineer Ernst Alexanderson sends the first fax over the Atlantic and the largest water storage power station in Europe is connected to the Bavarian Walchensee. Between the crisis and the break-up mood, the then 53-year-old head of the Optical Works Leitz decided against the advice of many close-knit employees to an epoch-making project. The Leica, the first compact camera in the world, will go into production.

The Ur-Leica


"I hereby declare: It is risked," said the daring at a meeting in Wetzla's company headquarters. And added, "This is a way to procure work for our workers during the years of depression and bring them through the coming hard times." The visionary entrepreneur with social responsibility, however, kept with the genius of his brilliant designer Oskar Barnack invented Kleinbildkamera also a real trump in the hands.

Oskar Barnack at his workbench


The small, lightweight Leica (the product name is a key word from Leitz and Camera) allowed a completely unknown flexibility. The roll film and fast exchangeable interchangeable lenses allowed fast image sequences; Their easy handling also gave amateurs access to photography. The Leica laid the foundations for modern photojournalism and shaped the development in the photographic and photochemical industry over a three-quarter century. With the revolutionary achievement from Haus Leitz, a new image aesthetic was established: As a secret observer, little Leica caught the moment. The dynamic snapshot photograph was born; Stiff, staged studio recordings had worn out.

Oskar Barnack, the inventor of the 35mm camera


Marketing and production, on the other hand, caused difficulties: Leitz's optical systems had earned their reputation and their turnover with microscopes and binoculars; the new lighting equipment lacked production equipment and sales channels. Massive investment was required. A failure of the project, Ernst Leitz knew, could have ruined the whole company and its reputation.

As early as 1925, the miracle apparatus was presented at the Leipziger spring exhibition of world-wide publicity. And she was instantly enthusiastic. The account of Ernst Leitz went up: Leica opened the Wetzla plants for long decades new sales markets and enabled the construction of the later most important branch of Leitz company.

Ernst Leitz was a passionate hunter


The camera from his own home documented another passion of the photo pioneer. For Ernst Leitz was not only a full-blooded entrepreneur, but also an enthusiastic hunter. In 1920 Ernst Leitz rented the sumptuous Hochwildrevier Schwobach in the Vordere Taunus, some 20 kilometers from Wetzlar. Pictures from the twenties and thirties of the last century show the relaxed entrepreneur with gauntlets and Tyrolese hat, between hounds and Hirschtrophae. "It was his personal retreat," later his grandson Knut Kühn-Leitz recalls the grandfather's area. "Ernst spent every free weekend in his hunting lodge. During the deerbrunt from the middle of September to the beginning of October he stayed in the area for up to two weeks. "

The hunting lodge and the pond in the summer (1930s)


The Waidmann Leitz, in a letter to two hunting friends in October 1939, describes how deeply impressed the ancient rutting ritual of the roaring deer. "There was a powerful concert in the Kraftsolms field. There was an apparently huge placekeeper with at least nine pieces of red deer. The stagher had always had his burden of keeping the defenders of respect and dusts, without forgetting his duty. Although Vollmond was still full, steam had gradually developed. I was constantly trying to cope with the target telescope.

The hunting lodge today


But it became more and more difficult, especially since the high seat did not allow for a circulation. I wanted to try to shoot one, but I had to do it with my rifle. As we noticed the next day, the distance was about 250 meters. I shot and Bender (Leitz 'Hegemeister, Editor of the Red ) had the impression that the one deer was embarrassed. He wanted to hear the mark. The next day we searched everything. But there was nothing to be found. "

Ernst Leitz in front of the Jagdhaus (1930)


Such experiences with the target optics lead the inventor Leitz to ever new improvements. The Schwobacher Jagdrevier has long since become an optical laboratory under the open sky. Hunting guests undergo Leitz's products in thorough practice tests. Optimization proposals are immediately implemented at the plant. "To the technical advances of this time," the grandson Kühn-Leitz knows, "were, for example, the oblique view of the spotting scope, optical distance meters and, of course, distance telescopes designed exclusively for hunting."

Ernst Leitz on the Road in the Hunting Carriage (1939)


But Ernst Leitz also understood the Waidwerk as a wonderful opportunity to cultivate old comradeships or to make new friendships. Leitz and his large family invite his former chief for a holiday to his private hunting lodge. There the whole clan may loaf, celebrate and use the bathhouse. Unfortunately, the guests heat the stove a little too strong or do not leave the necessary precautions. In any case, a piece of embers falls out and the whole wooden blockhouse is blazing. Luckily nobody will be harmed.

Hunting house and horse stable in winter


The generous Leitz takes it easy and rebuilds the property. This time in stone, because the Nazis forbid wood as a building material, it is needed for the armor. The joyous topping-out ceremony takes place in a pub in the next village, and the carpenter, the master of the masonry and the architect boast of the generous and congenial builder: Leitz sings humorously, "Thank you, If the old house had not burnt down, we would not be here today. "

The horse stable today


But in spite of such amusing moments and a strong sense of community, Dark Clouds clump together over Leitz's empire. For the Nazis, who are just beginning their barbaric extermination war, and who are half the world with their racial hatred, the diehard democrat Ernst Leitz is a thorn in the eye right from the start.

As a member of the left-liberal DDP, the large-scale contractor had repeatedly stood for the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic. Leitz was also committed to the initiative "Reichsbanner-Schwarz-Rot-Gold", which was to protect the unstable democracy from radical forces. Leitz provided the company with its company trucks for transport to Reichstreffen, and the Nazis, who were rapidly gaining influence, publicly titled "brown monkeys." It was only after the war that the Nazis repeatedly planned to turn off the influential industrialist expropriate. After all, his optical wetzlaer's works had warlike material and know-how.

Ernst Leitz during a chase in the war


It becomes a threat to Ernst Leitz and his relatives, as the entrepreneur protects himself against Jewish employees and places them at the New York branch of the company. Already in 1938, the Nazis arrested the sales director of the Leitz works Alfred Türk, because he furnished Jewish emigrants with letters of recommendation for the USA. A few years later, the Gestapo is picking up Ernst Leitz 'daughter Elsie. It provided curse aid to many Wetzlar Jews and kept the persecuted before the deportation to the extermination camps. She barely escapes the concentration camp, her father has all his relationships played to prevent the worst.

Ernst Leitz at a Bockjagd 1936


Posthum, Leitz, who died in 1957, was awarded the "Courage to Care Award". Ernst Leitz saved more than 60 people of Jewish faith.

The pond at the Jagdhaus today


Author:
Leica Master

 

[Foxi]

Great story.
Thank you.
Foxi