The lion’s share on founding Meopta company belongs to Docent RNDr. Alois Mazurek whose theoretical and pedagogical results had convinced entrepreneur Mr. Ing. Alois Beneš in 1933 to incorporate the Optikotechna Company in Přerov, the forerunner of today’s Meopta.

Alois Mazurek was born June 21, 1892 in Luková, Přerov district. His father was a supervisor and had seven children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. The family eventually moved to Predmosti, so that talented son Alois may study at secondary school in Přerov.

Later, during his years at university, World War I broke out and the young Alois had his military service. In Italy, however, was soon captured and returned home after the war in 1918. He immediately went back to college and after graduation he proceeded to Brno Technical University as an assistant professor Nachtigal.

Paul Rausnitz was born on March 9, 1928, to the family of a Jewish doctor in Jablonec nad Nisou. Shortly before World War II, he escaped with his parents and two brothers through Poland to what was then the Soviet Union, where the whole family joined Svoboda’s army and returned together to Prague. Young Paul entered the army at the age of only 14.

In 1946, the family left for the United States, where Rausnitz and his two brothers became important, respected business people over several decades.

Despite the time spent abroad, Rausnitz remained a loyal patriot, and in 1990 returned to the Czech Republic. In addition to business, he also devoted himself to supporting various projects involving sport, charity and culture. He supported education and sports self-realization for youth, and he engaged in benevolent activities.

Through his life, business and philosophy, he strongly advocated Masaryk’s ideas on freedom, democracy, courage and fortitude. At every opportunity, he very strongly imparted to young people the obligation to attentively guard these values and pass them on to later generations.

Immediately after the changes in Eastern Europe, he headed for his former homeland to look for new investment opportunities there. Although he was already past retirement age, his entrepreneurial spirit and drive to help his homeland led him to Meopta in Přerov. He had already done business in the optical field, so he decided to establish himself here. In the 1990s, the company was not in good condition, because as a manufacturer of military optics, over a short period it had lost 75% of its manufacturing work. It was forced to search not only for a new product portfolio, but also for a solid investor, and this connection became mutually beneficial.

Together with his nephew Gerald Rausnitz, Paul Rausnitz very carefully devoted himself to the development of Meopta, and gradually he succeeded in returning the world-famous company to the absolute pinnacle of the modern optical industry. Today it can boast very strong high-tech foundations, top technological equipment, especially vacuum devices for applying ultrathin optical layers and also special installations in cleanrooms that meet the strictest purity regulations, even to the molecular level.

Paul Rausnitz passed away in his sleep on November 11, 2018.

The most important distinctions and awards received by Paul Rausnitz

• On May 7, 2005, Czech president Václav Klaus gave Paul Rausnitz and his brother Egon a commemorative medal for their active participation in the battle against Nazism. The third of the brothers, Walter Rausnitz, was awarded the commemorative medal in memoriam.
• On August 30, 2006, Paul and Egon Rausnitz were ceremonially raised to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
• On August 27, 2007, at Přerov castle, Paul and Egon Rausnitz were raised to the rank of colonel. Their deceased brother, Walter Wolf Rausnitz, was given the same rank in memoriam.
• On October 3, 2008, Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg bestowed on Mr Rausnitz the award GRATIAS AGIT 2008. This award is given to distinguished individuals and organizations who have significantly contributed to spreading the good name of the Czech Republic abroad.
• On his birthday on March 26, 2008, Mr Rausnitz received the “Přerov Crystal Bison” award from the mayor of Přerov, which is given to distinguished individuals with a relationship to the city.
• On May 6, 2010, Mr Rausnitz was awarded the anniversary medal “65 Years Since the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” by the general consulate of the Russian Federation in Brno.
• On September 27, 2013, Mr Rausnitz was given the Commemorative Medal for Merit in Culture and Business awarded by the senate of the Czech parliament. This medal is awarded to people from the worlds of science, culture, sports and social life who, in a special way, gained merit in their professions or contributed to the good reputation of the Czech Republic abroad.
• On October 28, 2013, Mr Rausnitz received from Czech President Miloš Zeman the State Medal of Merit in the field of economics. The president gave the award mainly due to Mr Rausnitz’s work in privatizing Meopta as a very significant Czech optical firm, his investment in the firm’s growth and contribution to stable employment in the Přerov region. In deciding to award the medal, the president also considered Mr Rausnitz’s active role, and that of his whole family, in freeing Czechoslovakia from the Nazis.
• In April 2018, Mr Rausnitz was made an honorary citizen of the city of Přerov.
• On June 11, 2018, from the hands of the Prime Minister, Mr Rausnitz received the Arnošt Lustig Award for courage, fortitude, humanity and justice.

Gerald Rausnitz is the son of the eldest of the three Rausnitz brothers, Walter.

He actively participated in the management of the company for many years, either in the former position of general director of Meopta - optika, s.r.o., or later in the position of general director of Meopta Group.

It was he who brought the principles of functioning and survival into the company in today's modern, dynamic and, above all, competitive world. He initiated many changes (e.g. the introduction of the Axapta ERP system), without which the company would not be able to keep up with the competition and win orders in such a crucial segment as industrial applications (this segment currently accounts for around 80% of the company's total turnover).

Mr. Gerald's son David was also involved in the strategic management of the company, especially its American part at the time.

In 2023, Gerald Rausnitz sold Meopta to the Carlyle Group investment fund.