Hitler Pilot’s Chronograph Watch
The Germans are well known for their precision machinery. Companies such as BMW, VW, Porsche, and Leica have built a great reputation for the quality and functionality of their mechanical products.
Another less famous manufacturer of precision engineered products is Hanhart AG of Diessenhofen in Germany. Like many other manufacturers in Germany, at that time, Hanhart was hired to produce watches for Hitler’s Luftwaffe Pilots, in WWII.
They produced a chronograph in 1939 with the famous button painted red, which prevented an accidental reset. It was a very nice watch for its time, with a steel case, a fabric strap and 2 dials. Simple, accurate, and quite amazing for anyone who appreciates mechanical design. At the end of the war, the watch factory was looted and most of the machinery was shipped out of the country. The business was closed. Willy Hanhart, the founder was facing total ruin. However, near the end of the 1940s he managed to put together new machinery and restart the business.
Today the company still exists and manufactures German designer watches in Switzerland. The design is very similar to those made during the war years. By placing the watches side by side, you can see the basic design elements of the 1939 model, reflected in the 2010 model.
Collectors will always be interested in watches with an interesting history. The Hanhart range certainly has this. As further proof, those most interested in the era of technological development in the 1940s will remember the name “Dornier”, the German seaplane company. Hanhart was recently commissioned by the original designer’s grandson, Claude Dornier, to produce a chronograph reminiscent of one of Dornier’s most successful aircraft designs, the Do-X seaplane. Irén Dornier, the grandson, wore this new watch during his recent circumnavigation of the world in the historic seaplane.
It is difficult to buy these watches outside of Europe. Distribution is tightly controlled through sole proprietorships.
But if you want to add something really interesting to your collection, a Hitler Luftwaffe Pilots watch, or one from a U ship captain, you will find one with that heritage, in this range, of chronographs.