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).

CHAPTER IX – “Helmut Rösel”
(98 pages, 63 photos, 4 technical illustrations)

The collectible items of the former combat swimmer Helmut Rösel, which was submitted for auction to the auctioneer Dr. Crott, contains not only his Panerai watch but also some documents from his time as a combat swimmer, some of which are extremely rare in this day and age. They give precise information about the stages of his training and his successful missions at the western and eastern fronts. The German Federal Cross of Merit, which was awarded to him in 1983 provided new insights, following our enquires at the Office of the Federal President, into his professional career in the Protestant Church, in which he was a pastor from 1961 and a military chaplain for the Bundeswehr from 1971. Letters written personally by him and a 1994 jewellery certificate for his Panerai watch are precious pieces of evidence are just as difficult to find in this day and age as the historic Panerai watches themselves.

CHAPTER IX.I – “The Rösel Radiomir”
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 1010351
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Our book “History2″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.