A quality reproduction of a WWII German military Dienstuhr, inspired by a service watch design dating from around 1938. It features the characteristic black dial, large luminous numerals and hands, together with the distinctive subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position.
Although originally associated with German military service, this style of watch also has an interesting place within Allied wartime history.
During the advance across Europe, American, British and other Allied soldiers encountered large quantities of captured and abandoned German equipment. Small and useful personal objects such as watches were particularly attractive. They were practical, easy to carry and could become a tangible souvenir of a soldier's wartime experience.
Such objects were taken home as war trophies or GI bring-backs, exchanged between servicemen or sometimes used in the field. Original German military watches are known today with documentation identifying them as captured enemy property brought home by American servicemen.
For this reason, the watch can be used not only for a German wartime impression, but also as an interesting accessory for a late-war American or Allied impression, representing a captured watch subsequently worn by an Allied serviceman.
The reproduction combines the appearance of a period military watch with the convenience and reliability of a modern battery-powered quartz movement. Supplied with a black strap and presentation box.
Historical Context
German military service watches were manufactured by numerous German and Swiss watch companies during the Second World War. Typical military examples featured highly legible black dials, luminous numerals and hands, subsidiary seconds and robust cases.
The German term Dienstuhr literally means service watch. Original examples can be found with several military markings, including D, DH and DU, although the precise interpretation of some markings remains the subject of discussion among collectors and researchers.
From Dienstuhr to GI Bring-Back
German watches did not always remain on German wrists.
Historical research into American soldiers collecting enemy equipment specifically records watches among the personal objects acquired by GIs. They might be retained as souvenirs, used because of their practical value or traded between soldiers.
This provides an intriguing Allied connection to the Dienstuhr: a small piece of equipment that could literally change wrists and continue its journey through Europe with an Allied soldier.
Specifications
- Product: WW2 German Army Service Watch / Dienstuhr
- Type: reproduction
- Design: inspired by a circa 1938 military service watch
- Dial: black
- Numerals: large luminous Arabic numerals
- Hands: luminous hour and minute hands
- Seconds: subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock
- Movement: battery-powered quartz
- Case: silver-coloured stainless steel
- Case back: period-style Wasserdicht Stahlboden marking
- Strap: black grained PU leather
- Buckle: silver-coloured metal
- Maximum wrist circumference: approx. 19.5 cm
- Water resistance: suitable for rain and splashes, not intended for swimming
- Supplied with: black presentation box
- Suitable for: reenactment, living history, display, collecting or everyday wear
