Great find! An interesting historic document has been provided to us as an additional proof of the authentic story in our new book “History2”. During the research for Chapter V on Jochen Burnus’ frogmen mission against the pontoon bridges across river Elbe in April 1945, we were able to localize a photo showing him, standing in the river Elbe after he was captured by american troops. Not enough that we were lucky to find a matching and impressive photo (published on page 490) as an addition to the informations the veteran gave us in an interview, a copy of a newspaper from may 1945 surfaced. The photo of Jochen Burnus (visibly beaten after he was interrogated before) was made to be published in american newsreel but until today it was not known in which specific newspaper this photo was ever published…

With the support of one of our image sources / local archives of the WW2 battle area, a copy of the newspaper has been forwarded to us. And in fact: the photo which is published in our book on page 490 was published in the Official Weekly Newspaper of the 83rd “Thunderbolt” Infantry Division. The story was published on may 12th, 1945 in no. 3 issue of the “83rd Thunderbolt” on page 2 with the headline “…Swimming Saboteur”. Very intersting to read the caption below the photo: “This man from Mars, guarded by T/5 Serafino Ferrante of the 234th Engineers, is one of the six suicide swimmers who attempted to blow up the Truman Bridge.” The caption underlines how extraordinary and untypical the appearance of a captured “Kampfschwimmer” in his diving suit was in the eye of the enemy.

Further information on the pontoon bridge across the river Elbe can be found on the same page of the newspaper. It gives us today an insight view how important these pontoon bridges have been back then:
“83rd Engineers set new record – Members of Co. A., 308th Combat Engineers believe they established a record of some sort in their recent ferrying operations on the Elbe river. After putting the 329th Infantry across the river in an assault crossing, three platoons constructed two infantry support rafts and a treadmay raft. These were in operation within an hour after the first wave through the dense smoke screen prepared by Division Arty and hit the eastern shore of the Elbe. In the 16 hours that followed, over 1.000 vehicles of all types were ferried across the swift current of the Elbe to the bridgehead, even before the first bridge was completed. After that, the ferries were used to relieve congestion resulting from the one-way traffic on the bridge and were reserved for potential emergencies. The intensive stream crossing exercises conducted on the Mass river in Holland paid rich dividends in this historic river crossing operation.”

A few days ago we forwarded a printed copy of the newspaper from 1945 to veteran Jochen Burnus, who was very surprised to see himself inside. Next to a copy of our book “History2”, which he received from Ralf Ehlers in june, the newspaper of the “83rd Thunderbolt” became another piece of memory and his personal history – alomst 70 years after the photo was taken at the river Elbe…

We are glad to announce that also our book “History2″ has been recorded in the Library of the Federal Archives of Germany. Visitors of the library in Koblenz can see and read our book (with the signature B I 318 -2-) there.

Aside further international archives (The National Archives of the United Kingdom, The Imperial War Museum in London, The Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare), the Federal Archives have been a helpful source for us during the research, in Chapter V, Chapter VI, Chapter VII and Chapter VIII. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Our new book “History2″ is featured in the new “timegeeks” magazine on page 6, introducing new watch book releases (http://timegeeks.dk). Kristian Haagen, a passionated watch enthusiast and journalist, has provided us his latest magazine’s edition as pdf-file: September 2013.

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

Thanks for giving our new book “History2” a spotlight in your Magazine, Kristian! [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Our new book “History2″ is featured in the august issue of the german watch magazine “ArmbandUhren” on page 6 in the column “library”.

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

Interesting to see the profile of a Ref. 3646 watch in this photo, showing the pillow shaped case with the onion shaped crown (“Brevet +”) and its soldered to the case lugs in the middle of the photo. Bezel and caseback are both screwed down to the brass holding ring inside the watch, using lead seals to make the watch waterproof. The lead seals are sitting on the flat areas of the cushioned shaped case. This watch is using the high version of the bezel made for watches with a sandwich dial from Panerai.

In our new book “History2” we put a spotlight onto the construction of the Ref. 3646 in Chapter VIII.I with a technical illustration (page 771 – 775) and several photos, explaining the waterproof construction of the Reference 3646.

Another special moment for Ralf… and another promise kept: recently he visited Walter Lewandowski, the german frogmen veteran, who is featured in our new book “History2″ in Chapter VIII. Ralf delivered, as promised, a personal copy to Mr. Lewandowski (born in 1925) who welcomed him in good health, happy to see the result of our research and editorial work during the last two years.

Walter Lewandowski’s wife captured the moment when Ralf showed the final chapter to him.

Be well and stay in good shape, Mr. Lewandowski!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Today we send our birthday greetings to the german frogmen veteran Jochen Burnus, who can celebrate his 90th birthday in good health. Jochen Burnus, born 1923, is featured in our book “History2” in Chapter V. A few weeks ago Ralf visited Jochen to handover our new book where “his” personal story is published.

Stay in good shape, Jochen – alles Gute zum Geburtstag, “Heiwidiwu!”
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Almost one year after I visited Karl-Heinz Kiefer for a personal delivery of our book “History1”, it was time to deliver him a copy of our new book“History2″. For me it was all about keeping a promise – again. Both, Karl-Heinz Kiefer and his kind wife Irma, welcomed me at their home in good health. I was able to forwarded greetings from my co-author Ralf Ehlers to both of them.

Veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer, born in 1925, is featured in chapter III of our book “History1″. A preview of “his” chapter can be found here. The photo of the “handover moment” from last year is published in the preface of our new book “History2” on page 428.

Be well and stay in good shape, Mr. Kiefer!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

A special moment for Ralf… and all about keeping a promise: he recently visited Jochen Burnus, the german frogmen veteran, who is featured in our new book “History2” in Chapter V. Ralf delivered, as promised, a personal copy to the veteran right after the production. Jochen, who becomes 90 years old very soon, welcomed Ralf in very good shape with a strong handshake.

Finally there was the moment when Jochen Burnus was able to take the first look into our new book and read “his chapter”…

Be well and stay in good shape, Jochen!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The caseback of a Ref. 3646 / Type D watch. It bears engraved initials of the first owner of the watch: “SK”. The initials are placed above the year in which the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” was founded (February 1945).

The history of this watch is featured in our new book “History2” (Chapter V). Aside this watch’s history, we discovered in the last years the history of three other today existing watches of the same task force (16 frogmen). In the last months of the 2nd world war, several missions have been carried out under the command of Lieutenant Alfred Keller.

Our book “History1” carries the story of the “HP” watch (Chapter II), while two more watches of the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” are featured in our new book “History2”: The “HK” watch (Chapter VII) and the “WL” watch (Chapter VIII).