Elsie Kühn-Leitz, daughter of
Ernst Leitz II received a special honor from the city of Wetzlar. In Rasselberg, a new development of the city,
a street was named after the former honorary citizen of city.
Her son, Dr. Knut Kühn-Leitz
as well as other family members were present when Wetzlar Mayor Wolfram Dette
revealed the new street sign. An
attached plaque gives a brief explanation: "1903 - 1985. Honorary Citizen
of Avignon and Wetzlar. She promoted culture and international
understanding."
One of the great
accomplishments of Elsie Kühn-Leitz were her efforts to help Jewish citizens to
escape to other countries during the second world war (see: The Leica FreedomTrain ). Dr. Elsie Kühn-Leitz was imprisoned by the
Gestapo after she was caught at the border, helping Jewish women cross into
Switzerland. She eventually was freed, but endured rough treatment.
Immediately after the end of
the war, she promoted education and culture as the Wetzlar city councilor for
Education and Culture among other things. In 1945 she was co-founder of the Wetzlar
cultural community, of which she was chairman for many years. In the culture they saw a way to bring
normalcy in the post-war life.
In 1954, following a request
from Konrad Adenauer, Germany’s first chancellor after WWII, she began her
decades of commitment to the Franco-German friendship. This included the
establishment of the Franco-German Society in Wetzlar, whose President she was.
She also initiated for Wetzlar to become a sister city with Avignon in 1960.
Both Avignon and Wetzlar thanked her with an honorary citizenship. With remarkable assertiveness, she managed to
overcome prejudices and made a significant contribution to international
understanding. This commitment has been recognized with the highest honors that
could be given by the town of Wetzlar, as well as the Federal Republic of
Germany.
________________________________
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