Military wristwatches of German armed forces from WWII to the Bundeswehr: Tutima, Hanhart, Leonidas, Heuer, Junghans

German military wristwatches
World War II and Bundeswehr

 

Whenever the conversation turns to German military wristwatches, almost everyone interested in watches immediately thinks of the large observation wristwatches of the Luftwaffe, which, according to prevailing opinion, were worn by pilots. These statements can only be agreed with with reservations, because the observation wristwatches were, as the name suggests, intended for the observer on board an aircraft.

World War II

Starting with the Luftwaffe's wristwatches, in addition to the large B-watches for observers, there were also wristwatch chronographs made by Uhrenfabrik AG Tutima Glashütte/Sa. and Hanhart, Schwenningen am Neckar, which were mainly worn by pilots. These watches were very similar in appearance and came in several case variants, with and without a rotating bezel, as well as with one or two chronograph pushers. (Rotating bezels were used to mark the time; for example, by turning the red dot on the bezel to the minute hand in order to record a specific flight distance.) It was also possible to determine time intervals of up to 30 minutes to the second using the chronograph function. In most cases, these watches bear no military markings whatsoever, but were nevertheless issued as official timepieces upon request by the pilot. If the need for them no longer existed (e.g., in the event of injury), the watch was returned.

The appearance of almost all military wristwatches was largely identical, depending on their intended purpose. Clear, easy-to-read black dials with radium-coated luminous hands and Arabic numerals were easy to read even in poor visibility. The backs were screwed down and, in most cases, provided with a lead seal to protect against moisture and dirt. However, this type of watch was not necessarily part of every pilot's equipment; many pilots also wore their civilian watches, with or without a chronograph function, during missions.

In the pilot's chronographs, the Tutima had a higher-quality movement than the Hanhart. The movement in the Tutima was the UROFA Kai. 59 (Uhren- Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte AG), developed in the 1940s. The movement had 21 jewels and a diameter of 15 lignes (1 ligne = 2.26 mm). The balance was equipped with a shock-resistant device to protect against damage from lateral impacts or other negative forces. Shock protection was actually a requirement for German service watches and pocket watches. However, there were exceptions, as some service watches manufactured towards the end of the war no longer had shock protection. Perhaps this was because the shock protection devices were sourced from Switzerland, and these deliveries were now discontinued?

The Hanhart movement, on the other hand, was somewhat simpler: it was the Hanhart Caliber 41 with a diameter of 15.5 lignes and 17 jewels. Hanhart also offers watches with only a single chronograph pusher, but these do not allow for addition timing. On the two-pusher models, the upper pusher starts the time measurement and can also be paused during the measurement process and restarted from that point (additional measurement). The lower pusher is used to reset to zero after the measurement is complete, or, if pressed during the measurement process, to reset to zero with immediate restart (fly-back function). On single-push models, the upper pusher triggers the start, stop, and zero settings in that order.

Bundeswehr

With the founding of the Bundeswehr in 1955, the problem of equipping soldiers was also up for debate. When it came to armament and equipment, the Allies relied heavily on help at the beginning, but this was different when it came to equipment, where an efficient domestic industry with suitable material was still available.

This situation likely arose when it came to equipping German pilots with wristwatches that featured a chronograph function. Theoretically, the wrist chronographs developed by Tutima Glashütte for the Luftwaffe during World War II, featuring the UROFA Caliber 59, and the Chropnograph from Hanhart in Schwenningen, would have been suitable. However, because Tutima Glashütte was located in the former GDR, access to the local industry was impossible, except because the production facilities had been relocated to the Soviet Union. Thus, the Luftwaffe's first wrist chronograph was a Hanhart watch with only slightly modified movement.

The case of the postwar Hanhart was slightly smaller, and the strap lugs, which had been an integral part of the case in wartime production, were replaced with replaceable spring bars. The asymmetrical arrangement of the pushers in relation to the winding crown was also modified; the distance between the start and stop pushers and the crown was now identical.

But in addition to this version of the HANHART, there was another variant with an identical movement and dial structure, but with a case made of matt chrome-plated brass and a pressed stainless steel back.

In addition to Hanhart, another well-known German company was also involved in watchmaking during the war. The Junghans company from Schramberg in the Black Forest had a wide variety of watches in its production program, so that after the war, it also developed its own wristwatch chronograph caliber. The 14-ligne Junghans chronograph caliber J 88 with 19 jewels was thus also used in the wristwatches of the German Armed Forces. Behind the Junghans chronograph caliber J 88 lies a very beautiful gold-plated movement of classic design with a column wheel.

Junghans also has another case variant with a different supply number. This watch has a chrome-plated nickel silver case. The rotating bezel is round and knurled, without numerical graduations, similar to the Hanhart. This watch was the predecessor of the J88-0111 pictured above and had the supply number 6645-12-120-9351. The model designation was J 88 - 0110.

After these two watch models, German-made watches were no longer available for the time being. Hanhart and Junghans could no longer meet the continued demand for pilot's watches, as the established models were no longer available by the mid-1960s. The next pilot's chronograph model was a Swiss product with a hand-wound movement. Heuer-Leonidas in Biel supplied the successor, the first version still bearing the LEONIDAS dial and featuring the Valjoux Caliber 22.

There are also versions of the Heuer watch with slight variations. There are watches with SINN lettering on the dial. There are also Heuer watches without the 3H symbol on the dial. These have not been coated with active luminous material (presumably for radiation protection reasons). There are also watches with the supply number ending in -5081. The supply number refers to the watch complete with strap, while the final digit -3774 refers only to the actual watch without accessories.

These watches were either worn or sold in more or less good condition by the German Armed Forces Disposal Agency (VEBEG) after being retired. These models also heralded the end of the era of hand-wound movements, as their successors were watches with automatic movements.

Automatic chronographs

The Bundeswehr's first watch with an automatic chronograph movement was a product from Orflna/Porsche Design. The chronograph was equipped with the widely used Lemania Caliber 5100 movement with 17 jewels, which should be well known among watch connoisseurs. Furthermore, this watch also bears the evocative model name PORSCHE DESIGN. Porsche Design was likely responsible for the successful and often copied appearance of the functional dial design and the solid stainless steel case, designed for rugged use.

The second automatic watch, introduced for use by the German Armed Forces, was equipped with the same movement and the same functions as the Orfina. The watch was reassembled and delivered by Arctos Uhrenfabrik, Philipp Weber GmbH & Co. KG, Pforzheim.

The watch differs from its predecessor only in its case design and manufacturer; the movement specifications remain the same. For this reason, the Orfina's stock number was changed to the Arctos's version number, so that both models can be found under the same number for better logistics.

The third model of the German Armed Forces' automatic pilot's watch, bearing the Tutima name, once again establishes a reference to the classic pilot's watches through its manufacturer's name. A wrist chronograph with the Urofa Cal. 59 was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II under the name TUTIMA Glashütte. However, the current manufacturer, Tutima, is based in Ganderkesee near Bremen, and the watch has little in common with the old Tutima Glashütte in terms of technology, apart from the familiar name. The movement, however, once again features the familiar Lemania Kai. 5100. Due to the movement, the dial design is almost identical to the other two automatic chronographs, so this watch also bears the same supply number as its two predecessors. However, Tutima took a different approach to the case design: the round start and stop pushers protruding from the case of the Arctos Orfina gave way to rectangular push buttons integrated into the case. The entire case gives an extremely compact, rounded impression, so that the screw-down crown only protrudes slightly beyond the case silhouette.

This brief insight into the Bundeswehr's wrist chronographs would really have to end with the latest current wrist chronograph, the Tutima, were it not for a foray into quartz technology. In 1978, the Heuer Chronosplit was introduced for the Bundeswehr's long-range reconnaissance unit. This watch is a quartz watch equipped with two movements and two batteries, featuring two digital LCD liquid crystal displays with illumination. This type of wristwatch apparently did not prove itself, either due to sealing problems with the pressed case back or high power consumption; at least, it is no longer in use today. The most recently presented watch has a factory-fitted stainless steel bracelet, but these watches are usually delivered without a bracelet, and a leather service watch strap is attached.

Only 255 Leonidas chronographs served with the German military from 1967

Most collectors are surely familiar with the military chronographs from Hanhart, Junghans, and Heuer used in the early years of the Bundeswehr. Heuer issued two rare versions of hand-wound chronographs for the Bundeswehr. The majority of Heuer watches are no longer in military use and have been sold on the open market by the Federal Disposal Agency (VEBEG). Due to the disposal of Heuer watches, several remain in collector and private ownership. And some Heuer wearers may only now realize what a rare piece they own.

In 1967, after the German-made Hanhart and Junghans chronographs were no longer available, the Heuer wrist chrono was introduced into the Bundeswehr. The watches were intended for the aircrew of the three armed forces: Army, Air Force, and Navy, as well as for the long-range reconnaissance troops and the ship command personnel on submarines. However, the first delivery did not include the standard version with the '3 H' symbol (tritium luminous numerals). While it was a similar-looking watch, the dial inscription read 'Leonidas' (supplier: Heuer-Leonidas SA., 2501 Biel/Switzerland). Only 255 of these watches are said to have reached the Bundeswehr, as no more movements were available.

The watch differs from the Heuer in more than just the dial imprint; both the case and movement are not interchangeable with the standard Heuer version. The Leonidas houses a column-wheel chronograph movement of classic design, with a screw balance and blued Breguet hairspring (caliber Valjoux MN 222). The movement has a diameter of 31.58 mm and is therefore not interchangeable with the Heuer's Valjoux 230, which is 2.25 mm smaller. Both movements feature a stoppable small seconds at 9 o'clock and a flyback chrono function.

Since dials may have been replaced during repairs to Leonidas watches, resulting in a Heuer-imprinted dial that is not immediately recognizable as a Leonidas to the uninitiated, here's a tip for identification: The distance between the chronograph pushers and the winding crown is slightly greater than on a standard Heuer, and the caseback also has a smaller radius. However, the service number is identical to that of a standard Heuer. To be completely clear, you should open the case and identify the watch by its movement. The second, even rarer variant of the Heuer military chronograph is less of a pilot's watch and more of a measuring instrument.
 

A sidereal watch from Heuer

A little-known variant of this watch is the Heuer 1551 SGSZ with the service number 6645-12-148-2298. These watches are regulated to sidereal time and were part of the additional equipment for surveying using theodolites. However, hardly any of the aforementioned models are still in use by the Bundeswehr's airborne units.
This chronograph was regulated to sidereal time and was part of the optional "surveying theodolite" and was used to determine time during astronomical azimuth observations (specific angular dimensions). Due to the fact that the Earth rotates once on its own axis every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 3.5 seconds according to sidereal time, and sidereal time is required to determine the coordinates of locations on Earth using the stars, this watch was regulated to sidereal time. Since this watch then represents a process compared to standard time, the dial was additionally imprinted with the words "STERNZEIT REGULIERT" (Sternzeit Regulated) to prevent confusion. Furthermore, these watches have a supply number that differs from the standard Heuer: 6645 - 12 - 148 - 2298.

The movement is identical to that of the standard Heuer. Even with a Sternzeit watch, the dial may have been replaced during an overhaul. In this case, the only identification required is the different supply number, the type designation found on every Heuer, and the serial number between the lugs. On a standard Heuer, the type designation '1550 SG' is located on the case radius between the lower lugs below the '6'. On a Sternzeit-regulated Heuer, the type designation '1551 SGSZ' (SZ stands for Stemzeit) can be found there. The serial number of Heuer watches is located on the opposite side between the lugs.

The exact number of 'sidereal-time regulated' Heuers is unknown. However, all watches mentioned so far have serial numbers in the range of 4698 to 4720, so the presumed number of pieces is likely very small, possibly between 30 and 50.

Source: by Wolfgang Koll, Meppen