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Karl Dönitz' Omega Ploprof?!

JimJupiter
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Hey,

an hour ago something totally weired was sold at a German flea Market website.
On the first sight, a usual Omega PloProf, but the backside has some (dark?) history. There is an inscription that I just can partly read (I asked for better pics, but no success so far).

It says:

An den Kameraden
[…] Kapitän z. See
[…] Pflichterfüllung Treue
[…] Kapitulation an [..] Montgomery
Ihr ergebener Karl Dönitz
Großadmiral Führer d. U-Boote
Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine
1943-45
Aumühle 1976

So it seems this watch was the gift of the last head of the Third Reich Karl Dönitz to one of his Captains, or maybe later captains.
Dönitz lived till 1980, so the date could be legit. Unfortunately I can't read the name, maybe someone else could?

Historic Curiosity!

Nico


gravur.webp Screenshot 2026-01-29 140656.webp Screenshot 2026-01-29 140638.webp Screenshot 2026-01-29 140605.webp Screenshot 2026-01-29 140739.webp
 
JimJupiter
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Cheap, just 3.500€. I was to late unfortunately. I liked it (and the price of course) despite the inscription.
 
ErichKeane
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JimJupiter JimJupiter
Cheap, just 3.500€. I was to late unfortunately. I liked it (and the price of course) despite the inscription.
Wow! At that price, I'd have loved to pick it up and polish the inscription off the back 😀
 
Jan Dietrich
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Without a document verifying this Engraving it is probably worthless. But historicly interesting.
 
JimJupiter
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Got a new pic. the whole inscription is the following:

Unseren Kameraden
Wilhelm Schlemme Kapitän z. See
Freundschaft Pflichterfüllung Treue
8.5.1945 Kapitulation an Feldm. B. L. Montgomery
Ihr ergebener Karl Dönitz
Großadmiral Führer d. U-Boote
Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine
1943-45
Aumühle 1976


English:

To our comrade
Wilhelm Schlemme, Captain (Navy)
Friendship Duty Loyalty
May 8, 1945, Surrender to Field Marshal B. L. Montgomery
Yours sincerely, Karl Dönitz
Grand Admiral, Commander of Submarines
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy
1943-45
Aumühle 1976

1769943512923.webp
 
cristos71
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I had ChatGPT analyse the first picture posted here for the text...but what a load of gobledy gook it gave me.....this is great info, thanks!
 
Passover
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"Kapitän zur See" seems to be a high rank in the German Navy, but no "Wilhelm Schlemme" if found online with this rank. Quite unlikely such a person can't be found in an online serach...
 
Servius
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Really needed a Ploprof caseback for such a chatty engraving…

About the authenticity of it, do that kind of provenance add that much of value anyway? Not convinced…

Very interesting nonetheless!
 
Redondo444
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Assuming not adding up / fake inscription.​

I found one captain but that one died in 1951.

​

​

Personal Details​


  • Born: February 13, 1895.
  • Died: September 14, 1951.
  • Final Rank: Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea), promoted on April 1, 1943.

Military History in World War II​


Schlemme was a specialist in naval artillery and anti-aircraft defense rather than a ship commander. His career was defined by the defense of German coastal installations:


  • Naval Flak Command: From March 1943 until the end of the war in May 1945, he served as the Commander of the 2nd Marine-Flak-Regiment.
  • Defense of Wilhelmshaven: His primary responsibility was protecting the vital naval base at Wilhelmshaven from massive Allied air raids. This base was crucial for the German U-boat fleet and surface ships.
  • The Knight's Cross: On January 5, 1945, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). This was a high-level recognition of his leadership in maintaining the air defense of the German Bight during the final, most intense stages of the air war.

Post-War and Death​


Schlemme survived the war but lived only six years into the post-war era. He passed away in September 1951.



Here are the specific biographical details for the historical Wilhelm Schlemme:





Birth and Early Life​


  • Born: February 13, 1895.
  • Place of Birth: Paderborn, Germany.
  • Background: He entered the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) as a cadet in 1913, serving through World War I before continuing his career in the Reichsmarine and later the Kriegsmarine.

World War II History​


Schlemme was a specialist in coastal and anti-aircraft artillery. While many captains sought glory at sea, his role was the static defense of the Reich's most vital ports.


  • Regimental Command: He spent the final years of the war (1943–1945) in Wilhelmshaven as the Commander of the 2. Marine-Flak-Regiment.
  • The Defense of the "Fortress": Wilhelmshaven was the primary shipyard for the German navy. Schlemme was responsible for coordinating the heavy anti-aircraft batteries that defended these dry docks and U-boat pens against thousands of Allied bombers.
  • High Honor: Because of the efficiency of his defense units during the relentless air raids of 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on January 5, 1945.

Death and Legacy​


  • Died: September 14, 1951.
  • Place of Death: Göttingen, Germany.
  • Burial: He was buried in Göttingen, where his grave was historically visited by veterans' organizations in the post-war decades.
Edited:
 
Dan S
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hansaboy hansaboy
Thanks for sharing,
and WOW - what a piece of history!

Even if legit, I think this would be of only minor historical interest, TBH. Collectors want items from the era, not commemorative engravings from 30 years later (apparently 25 years after the death of the person being memorialized). IMO it's not historically important enough to add value to the creepy community of people who collect Nazi paraphernalia.
 
redpcar
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Hammer price of 3500E. I think the people have spoken.
 
JimJupiter
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redpcar redpcar
Hammer price of 3500E. I think the people have spoken.
The actual price was 4.500 told me the seller. It was a buy it now, not an auction.

Regarding the Kapitän zur See. I think he relates to a later officer of the Bundesmarine (after 1955) and not to the Third Reich Reichsmarine. But still, Havnt found this name either,… yet!

Nico
 
ErichKeane
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Servius Servius
Really needed a Ploprof caseback for such a chatty engraving…

About the authenticity of it, do that kind of provenance add that much of value anyway? Not convinced…

Very interesting nonetheless!
Same as the Kim Jong Il Connie that someone is trying to sell (or was?). Doesn't seem historically significant enough to add value, so actually harma value.
 
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