Our new book “History1” is featured in the new “timegeeks” magazine on page 16, introducing new watch book releases (http://timegeeks.dk). Platform owner Kristian Haagen, a passionated watch enthusiast and journalist, has provided us his latest magazine’s edition as pdf-file: August 2012.

Kristian “Bezelator” Haagen has received the 2003 and 2004 “asshat award” and is known in the watch world as a long-term member of the paneristi.com forum since september 2000. His unforgettable “corkscrew treatment” will remain as one of the most attended performances ever.

Our new book “History1″ is featured in the august issue of the german watch magazine “ArmbandUhren”. On page 10 new book releases are introduced in the “library” category, where our book has got a place between a new book about the “Royal Oak” and a book about the so-called “German Unity-Chronometers” from the 1940’s.

Get your copy at the newspaper stores across europe.
Find more info at www.armbanduhren-online.de

During my visit of Mr. Kiefer, featured in chapter III of our new book “History1”, we were speaking about the interview I had with him more than a half year ago. We came back to his instructor, Bernhard Dornsiepen, which watch was auctioned in april 2012 at Dr. Crott and soon later found a good new home half around the globe.

Mr. Kiefer showed me an old photo album which he collected photos, which were taken during veteran meetings after the war in the 1970’s and 1980’s at the island of Sylt, where Mr. Kiefer and his former comrads had been exercised to become “Kampfschwimmers” of the german navy. From time to time they returned tho the place of their training during war time, but this time – many years later – in times of peace and together with their families as a “reunion”.

On a few photos in the album, Bernhard Dornsiepen was visible, so it was the first time – accidential – that there was an image of him aside “just” his initals on the caseback of the watch… It is always nice to put a face behind a name!

A few months ago, only the watch was known. The initials on the caseback let us find the first owner, with the help of another veteran. Another few months later, a photo has been found, adding more “personal touch” on this vintage treasure.
[Volker Wiegmann]

Our new book “History1” is featured in the august issue of the german watch magazine “Uhren Magazin”. On page 34 new book releases are introduced, where our book has its place in the middle.

Get your copy at the newspaper stores across europe.
Find more info at www.watchtime.net

Six months after I visited the german “Kampfschwimmer” veteran for an interview, it was time to deliver him a copy of our new book “History1” – keeping a promise that I made back in december 2011.

Both, Mr. Kiefer and his kind wife Irma, welcomed me at their home in good health and so I was able to forwarded greetings from my co-author Ralf Ehlers to both of them. After reading “his” chapter, I took this photo of him – a smile says more than many words… which was without a doubt a priceless moment.

Karl-Heinz Kiefer is featured in chapter III of our new book “History1”. A preview of “his” chapter can be found here.

Auf ein Wiedersehen, Herr Kiefer – bleiben Sie noch lange so fit!
[Volker Wiegmann]

CHAPTER I
(75 pages, 38 photos, 4 technical illustrations)

The story of the German elite swimmer Heinz Günter Lehmann is told with numerous photos (including maps and documents of the allied secret intelligence), covering the period from his training in Venice to his countless sporting successes on the international stage after the 2nd World War.

Preview of page 30 – 31:
Historical map of the Venice area from allied secret intelligence (dated 1944), showing the location of the training camp of the german “Kampfschwimmer” units.

Preview of page 50 – 51:
“Kampfschwimmer” Heinz Günter Lehmann (wearing the Ref. 3646 Panerai watch on his left wrist) and some of his comrads, photo from 1944 taken at San Giorgio / Venice.

Preview of page 66 – 67 (part of chapter I.I):
Photo of Heinz Günter Lehmann’s Ref. 3646 / Type C watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our book “History1″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.

CHAPTER II
(91 pages, 44 photos, 3 technical illustrations)

For the most part the chapter about Heinz Pape is taken from his surviving diary and presented as a firstperson narrative, with comprehensive supplementation. Thanks to extremely rare aerial photographs of the assignment targets described by him and the examination of several maps it was possible to analyse his diary entries precisely and thus present them to the reader in such an impressive manner – an unique story.

Preview of page 80 – 81:
Introduction of Heinz Pape and his surviving diary from 1945.

Preview of page 88 – 89:
Historical map of the assignment targets corresponding with the personal diary of Heinz Pape.

Preview of page 156 – 157 (part of chapter II.I):
Photo of Heinz Pape’s Ref. 3646 / Type D watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our book “History1″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.

CHAPTER III
(55 pages, 39 photos, 3 technical illustrations)

The story of Karl-Heinz Kiefer, who received fast-track training in the last months of the 2nd world war, already provided proof in the first edition of this book (2007) about period of use of the rare watch-face version of his Panerai watch, which for a long time had been ascribed to an earlier date. Now, his winter training in a toughening-up camp at the Baltic Sea is described in more detail.

Preview of page 172 – 173:
Introducing Karl-Heinz Kiefer and his career in the german Kriegsmarine from his recruit training in 1943 to the fast-track training in the last months of the 2nd world war.

Preview of page 203 – 204:
Quarters of the special marine units of the Kriegsmarine (historical map and technical illustrations of midged submarines and their bases in northern Germany and Denmark, together with the locations of the training camps in northern Italy).

Preview of page 214 – 215 (part of chapter III.I):
Photo of Karl-Heinz Kiefer’s Ref. 3646 / Type D watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our book “History1″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.

CHAPTER IV
(165 pages, 106 photos, 7 technical illustrations)

The chapter on Mario Arillo begins with an interview conducted with him in 1989. Numerous as yet unpublished pictures and documents from the family possessions of the famous commander from La Spezia augment the personal descriptions of his submarine missions as a means of transport for Italian Gamma swimmers and the SLC units of the Decima MAS.

Preview of page 232 – 233:
The interview section of chapter IV includes many yet unreleased photos of Mario Arillo, the commander of the italian submarine Ambra, which was one of the SLC transport submarines in 1942.

Preview of page 260 – 261:
Mario Arillo’s impressive and moving interview, taken 11 years before he died, holds many interesting details on the missions against the harbours on the north african coast with very rare photos taken aboard the Ambra together with SLC pilots and Gamma frogmen.

Preview of page 380 – 381 (part of chapter IV.I):
Photo of Mario Arillo’s Ref. 6152/1 watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our book “History1″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.