Leica 389387K was shipped to the Luftwaffe on in batch 9439, and is another example of a defaced (poorly) camera. We’ll never know an exact number of how many of these cameras were shipped, let alone how many were destroyed during the war. Validating the authenticity of a wartime product made by a country that lost the war is incredibly difficult. Although Lager’s book is not complete, it is without a doubt the reference article for anyone wanting to verify the authenticity of a genuine war time Leica. Jim Lager was gracious enough to provide me with a copy of his book, “Wehrmacht Leica” which contains a great deal of information that he has compiled through over 40 years of research and study into the history of the Leica camera. In addition, later entries from 19 are more erratic and sloppy, perhaps due to disorganization and duress Leitz employees likely suffered near the end of the war, so even with the incredible detail of these records, not every Wehrmacht Leica can be fully verified. For reasons that we will likely never know, only cameras shipped to the Luftwaffe have detailed records. It was through this documentation kept by Leitz that today we are able to validate a large number, but not all Wehrmacht Leicas. Although produced in Wetzlar, many cameras left the factory and went straight to agents in Berlin.
#Ernst leitz wetzlar microscope review serial number
Leitz has a long history of detailed record keeping, and throughout this period of their history, each serial number was tracked in ledgers detailing shipment numbers, dates, and (usually) destinations. There exist cameras shipped to the Heer (army) and Kriegsmarine (navy) as well, but overwhelmingly, the majority went to the Luftwaffe. Over the years, collectors have been aware of so called Luftwaffe (air force) Leicas, and although a great deal of these cameras were made for the German air force, they were not exclusively produced for just one branch of the Wehrmacht. Starting in August 1939, Leitz began delivering batches of Leica cameras to the German Wehrmacht which was the name for their Armed Forces. Leica 338476 shipped, six days before Germany’s invasion of Poland and the start of WWII on Before and during the war, the Leica camera was world renowned as one of the best photographic instruments made, and as such was a highly desirable item by the German war effort. Leitz’s so called “Leica Freedom Train” isn’t nearly as well known as the efforts by Oskar Schindler, but is no less significant. In the years prior to the war, Leitz secretly helped train and promote Jewish workers from his factory in the city of Wetzlar into sales positions, so they may be sent on sales trips to New York, and other western countries, freeing them from future atrocities. The Leica camera has an undeniable link to Nazi Germany, but it’s president, Ernst Leitz II was not a willing supporter of the regime. “Secure in the Mountains with the Leica”, an advertisement in Kleinfilm Foto from Jan/Feb 1941. If however, you are interested in a fascinating period of history, that just happens to coincide with some dark times, then please keep reading and I hope you find it as interesting as I have. For anyone misguided enough to even remotely consider anything Nazi Germany did back then as a good idea, this article is not for you. Although the link between Nazi Germany and Leica cameras is real, this article is about the history of the camera, and nothing more. From there, the seeds for this article were planted. I found Jim’s contact information online, sent him the pics and asked for his help. That man was Leica historian, author, and war-time expert Jim Lager. After getting some pretty convincing, but low resolution images, I asked around for help in authenticating it, and nearly every response told me I needed to consult with one man. In July 2018, I was contacted by a reader of this site named Joe Prah saying he had a military Leica and wanted my help to authenticate it. I enjoy researching the stories behind the people who created and used these wonderful devices, and considering a camera’s entire purpose is to capture moments on film, being able to wonder about the things these cameras have seen is really exciting for me. My passion for collecting cameras is heavily rooted in their histories.
This is a topic that is very sensitive to a lot of people, and sadly, has recently become more of a conversation topic among extremist groups in the United States and other countries.
In addition to cameras and lenses, Germany was also tied to a whole list of atrocities committed by it’s government and the Nazi regime. Throughout a large portion of the 20th century, the photographic industry was heavily tied to Germany.
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