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.

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.

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.

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

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.

We have updated our bookstore and taking pre-orders for our new book “History1″, which is in the production period. If you want to receive our new book as one of the first served in may 2012, please visit our bookstore and place your order now.

All four chapters are introduced below (tagged with “history1″) so: find out more about this book!

We will publish latest info on the production process very soon, so you can follow the production process until delivery takes progress in may 2012. 
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Took a nice pic of the “Luminor Trittico”. All three pieces are powered by “Luminor Panerai”: the 16 m depth gauge, the Ref. 6152/1 Panerai watch and the compass. Both instruments, the compass and the depth gauge, have a case size of 70 x 90 mm.

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 124537
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 

The 2nd pack of blueprints has been checked today. After some minor “cosmetical” corrections, imprimatur for the 420 pages of the book has been given.

The prototype for the choosen materials of the cover (leather and canvas – a hommage to the historical boxes and packages of Panerai products) and the embossing tools of the typographic elements received imprimatur as well.

The construction of the protecting slipcase for the new book “history1″, weighting 2.7 kilos, will follow up. The slipcase will be made with the same grey canvas as used on the cover of the book.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The text of our new book “Watches with History” / “history1″ has been completely cross-checked by our native speakers. The last of the four chapters will be transferred into the production pipeline today. The 2nd batch of blueprints will be produced as the next step before the print production will start.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

On march 20th, 2012 Ralf Ehlers gave a lecture on his hobby collecting Vintage Panerai at the Lions Club Munster. The lecture took more than one hour in which Ralf spoke to the interested audience about collecting Panerai, the roots of the brand, its naval history and how he started to write books about his hobby five years ago. On the photo Ralf was wearing his Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer”. Being a Lions Club member for years, he was invited to give a lecture on his hobby by the president of the Lions Club Munster, Mr. Frank Becht, who is also a Panerai collector.

Aside the presentation Ralf Ehlers brought some pieces of his collection for a little exhibition: four Vintage Panerai watches (Ref. 3646 / Type C “Kampfschwimmer”, Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo”, Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” with Angelus movement and also a Ref. GPF 2/56 “Egiziano Grosso”), instruments (a Vintage Panerai depth gauge plus compass) and rare diving equipment from a german “Kampfschwimmer”, which received a lot attraction from the members of the Lions Club. 

[Photos courtesy of Dr. Roland Metzner, Lions Club Munster]

The first pack of blueprints was ready to pick up today. “Three chapters down, one to go”: 250 of 420 pages have been delivered to the prepress department after passing the final cross-check on all languages. 

The sold out version of “Watches with History” from 2007 (21 x 21 cm) can be seen on the left corner of the photo, placed on our book “The References” . The new “history1″ will have the same size as “The References” (26 x 26 cm). 

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]