3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” on auction: the caseback

by on Feb.15, 2012, under Watch Point

Auctoneer Dr. Crott provided some photos of the watch, which will be used for their catalogue of the 85th auction on may 12th 2012 in Frankfurt/Germany.

The view onto the caseback shows a wonderful and also rare “Kampfschwimmer” engraving, individualized for the owner of the watch, Bernhard Dornsiepen (initials “BD”). Dornsiepen was in service 1944 and became later an instructor for the indoor training of the “Kampfschwimmer”. The indoor training was exercised at the “Weisskoppel”, home base of the german “Kampfschwimmer” units (Lehrkommando 700) on the island of Sylt in northern Germany from november/december 1944 until the end of the 2nd world war.

Instructor Bernhard Dornsiepen has been mentioned by veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer during an interview, which was held in december 2011, of which extracts will be published in our new book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History” / “history1”. He mentioned Dornsiepen as one of the instructors for indoor training several times and underlined his diving skills.

[Photo courtesy of Auktionen Dr. H. Crott / S. Pflaesterer]

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