An Interview with Curt Herzstark

Curt Herzstark discusses the history of the Austrian Calculating Machine Manufacturing Company, his father's inventions and the development of the CURTA hand-held calculator.

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nto the factory? He will die otherwise." "Yes, if it is possible, I will do it. I will report it. What kind of profession does this man have?" "Lawyer." "Yes, what should I do with a lawyer?" "Well maybe you can find a way for him, comrade." So, when I informed the production scheduling department that I have ascertained with my inspections that a ... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

he was able to save others by getting them jobs in the factory

HERZSTARK: It would be too much [and range too far] if I were to tell you all of the details, then I would have to relive the hours until I came to Buchenwald. So, in any case, how I was delivered in Bochum is a really terrible story. I was already spiritually at zero [seelisch am Nullpunckt], and then I came to this so called "small camp". I can s... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

and then I was sent to Buchenwald. There, in the very first weeks, I was put in a work unit where I believed I would be buried.

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

But in '43 two people from our factory were arrested and one was decapitated. They had listened to English radio stations and transcribed the broadcasts on a typewriter and passed it on. This was discovered because of the typed copy. The typewriter was identified and the owner, he was one of our mechanics, his name was Zur, he was beheaded. The sec... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

jesus

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

Herzstark starts building precision machines for the Nazis in 1938

Now comes... the CURTA comes in for the first time, no? I knew how in principle to build a machine for the hand in 1938. Naturally the moment that Hitler came all of this was put aside. First, we were not allowed to build any more calculating machines. Secondly, I said to myself, this is a living for me perhaps if I emigrate or something. Aside fro... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

There was a will from 1913 and my parents each left everything to the other partner so that there could be no dispute. This will was still in existence but my mother did not want to use it. Instead she suggested, "You get the factory and your brother Ernst, will get the cinema and I will receive a pension from each of you." That was '37, '38 and we... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

and then, the nazis.

Already in 1926-27 while I was in sales, people said again and again, "Yes, that is nice, but isn't there anything smaller?" This was a time when there was a lot of advertising of the calculating machine. Everyone who was a technician, carried his slide rule. But for calculating, the equivalent didn't exist. People again and again said, "Does somet... See more

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

his approach to designing the calculator - look at everything backwards .

this whole story exists by looking backwards - we look back in time to find him and his story.

broadly, ideas around time and progress seem to be perking up again and again

HERZSTARK: The second war... yes, yes. My father had owned, by the way, a movie theater for many years. As

Curt Herzstark • An Interview with Curt Herzstark

his dad bought a movie theater!