Date of use : 1944 Germany

Carl Zeiss Jena Worker Insurance Record, 1944–1946

This document contains the insurance records of a labourer (Wilhelm Jung, born in Germany in 1897, a lathe maker) at Carl Zeiss Jena, Germany's longest established manufacturer of optical devices and photographic lenses. Recorded during the final years of World War II and its aftermath, this document provides detailed information about the worker's salary, insurance premiums, and employer contributions. At that time, Germany's health and disability insurance systems were strictly regulated, and regular contributions to designated insurance funds were mandatory. The front side of the document shows that the worker was employed at Carl Zeiss Jena between 1944 and 1946 and that their insurance premiums were paid to Betriebskrankenkasse Carl Zeiss Jena, a private health insurance fund belonging to the company.

By 1946, the insurance transactions had been transferred to another institution called SVK Jena. The worker's earnings were recorded in Reichsmarks, the currency used in Germany at the time. The employer's stamps and authorized signatures further enhance the document's authenticity. Approved by the payroll office of Carl Zeiss Jena, this record serves as proof of both the worker's insurance and salary status. The back side of the document contains general information about how insurance premiums were assessed.

At the time, Germany's insurance system classified employees into different categories based on their employment status. There were distinct regulations for voluntary insured individuals, mandatory insured employees, non-permanent workers, part-time employees, and self-employed individuals. While employees paid their insurance contributions through their employers, certain individuals who met specific conditions were required to make additional insurance payments. This system was designed to protect individual welfare and ensure that the workforce remained covered under insurance. As evidenced by this document, Carl Zeiss Jena not only paid salaries to its employees but also ensured their social security rights.

Considering the economic and political conditions of the time, such insurance records were crucial in securing workers' rights to pensions, health care, and disability benefits. Carl Zeiss was founded in 1846 in Jena, Germany, by Carl Zeiss. The company initially focused on manufacturing precision optical and mechanical instruments and soon became one of Europe's leading optical firms. In the late 19th century, physicist Ernst Abbe made significant contributions to the company, advancing the scientific approach to optical manufacturing.

Carl Zeiss became a global leader in microscopy, telescopes, and photographic lenses through its innovative technologies. In the 20th century, Carl Zeiss expanded its production to include not only optical devices but also advanced lenses and optical systems for military and industrial purposes. During World War II, the company supplied various optical instruments for the German military. After the war, the company was divided into two separate entities operating under different political systems: Carl Zeiss Jena in East Germany and Carl Zeiss Oberkochen in West Germany. Throughout the Cold War, both branches continued manufacturing under different economic and political conditions. In the 1990s, following Germany's reunification, Carl Zeiss was consolidated into a single entity once again and continued its global expansion.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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