Ernst Leitz II Ernst Leitz II, became the sole owner of the Leitz compnay in 1920, later to become Ernst Leitz, G.m.b.h. in 1930.  His brother, Ludwig Leitz, was instrumental in the company entering into photography through the microscope division and would have become the rightful heir to the family business if it were not for his tragic early death in 1898.  One could only wonder that if his death had been avoided (horse riding accident) that all early Leica cameras would be engraved 'Ludwig Leitz' instead of 'Ernst Leitz'. Ernst Leitz II