Ernst Leitz III

"Dr. Ernst Leitz III was born in 1906. In 1924 he joined the family business as an apprentice mechanic. He then studied physics in Berlin. When Ernst Leitz KG and Ernst Leitz GmbH were combined in 1930, the barely 24-year-old was appointed managing director, with Dr. Henri Dumur. Dr. Ernst Leitz III has served this function for 44 years.

Ernst Leitz GmbH owes him credit for decisive inventions in the field of optical precision instruments. He turned his attention to the technology of optics and glass research. In particular, he encouraged the development of manufacturing methods for aspherical optics and in 1949, set up a glass research laboratory for the purpose of finding new thorium-free optical glass.

He was appointed Honorary Senator from the Technical University of Darmstadt and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Justus Liebig University of Giessen.

He was a founding member of the CDU in Wetzlar in 1948 and was on the city council for decades.

Even after his retirement as CEO he continued his work as Vice Chairman of Ernst Leitz GmbH from 1974 to 1978. He died in 1979."

Google Translation from Ernst Leitz Wegbereiter der Leica - Heel Verlag GmbH, Königswinter 2006 - ISBN 3898805514 edited by Knut Kühn-Leitz