| Author | Message | ||
     Claudio Junior Member Username: Claudio Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Hi, over the years I came across two watches with the same engravings on the back : "HILF MIT 1942/43 REICHSSIEGER LUFTWAFFE DER KAMPF IM OSTEN" Of course, on Ebay the sell and say every sort of thing, but point is that the engravings looks to be identical on both watches and both were the JLC cal. 463, already suspected to be related with the German Army during WWII (a threading here few months ago). Case back pics attached. Claudio    | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 277 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Hi Claudio! I swear, I once had an email confirming these cal. 463 watches were a large bunch exclusively made for the the German military. Actually I got it forwarded from Zaf. A pitty he can't remember this email.  Unfortunately this happend some years ago and through computer changes and harddrive crash the email is lost. I'm following this particular model for nearly 10 years now, and am 100% convinced it is an issued military watch. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4153 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Hi Guys, altough it does appear that a batch of watches did go to Germany - I don't remember if it was 10,000 pcs or 30,000 pcs -factory records do not confirm this sure, just the production date. We've sort of been guessing since. I even recently asked this question again. Maybe one day I will go look at the records myself. However, it is still NOT an "issued" watch in the strict sense of the word, for two reasons: 1. It doesn't follow any known specification (snap back, spring bars), etc. 2. Even this engraving, would suggest a customization rather than a formal engraving by the Luftwaffe itself. You can see examples of engravings of this type in the Condor legion units and Luftwaffe engravings of some Heuers, done by the pilots themselves or at the base level. Google translates the back to: HELP WITH 1942/43 REICHSSIEGER AIRFORCE THE STRUGGLE IN THE EAST Is that accurate, Ilja? | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4154 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
By the way, is the email notifcation working? It should email the people participating in this thread to show that someone has answered. | ||
| Claudio Junior Member Username: Claudio Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for replies - additional infos, Ilja and Zaf ! Zaf, no mail here. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4158 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Regarding the email notifications it's under "edit profile" top right corner and you can tell the system to email you when there is a answer to your post. | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 278 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Reichssieger seams to be an 'honor' of the Hitler youth. Like champion or winner of a contest. You find pins from severel years as well. Zaf, I tend to change struggle into battle, fight or simply - war. Meant is the war against Russia. Remember these watches have matching numbers, movement serial is identical to the case number. Actually the ONLY JLC product having this criteria and a must have for German Air Force (Luftwaffe) watches if I remember correctly. On Purists.com there was a Dutch historian wo explored the crash site of a Heinkel (?) bomber in the Netherlands, they found this particular watch. At least an indication. ;) Just 1-5% of the popping-up 463 do have this Reichssieger engraving, besides the very creative bullshit engravings some dealers did to asure customers a military provenance. Also the Reverso book "The living Legend" reports of German state ordered watches in large quantity. Of course the book needs to be read with a grain of salt, but again an idication. Not to forget, the movement 463 only shows off in this model, no other use, except some put-together beasts. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4162 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
It seems that the Hitker youth were frequently used by the Luftwaffe in anti-aircraft batteries, so it could be that...we'll never know for sure I'm afraid. |