This is the official - unofficial account of how Indiana Jones acquired his little known World War II Russian military wristwatch. It is guaranteed to be 100% fictionally accurate and can be substantiated through actual historical accounts and photographs!

We all know that Indy was never seen wearing or owning any sort of timepiece. It is widely believed that because of his rugged lifestyle a watch would only have gotten in the way. Well, after the end of World War II Indy was fortunate enough to acquire what we know can consider the official - unofficial Indy watch.

Here is the incredible story!

Berlin - May 2^nd 1945:

Russian troops overrun the German forces and take control of Berlin. Yevgeny Khaldei, commissioned as a lieutenant in the Soviet army and a staff photographer at the Tass news agency, reaches the Brandenburg Gate and witnesses a group of Russian troops being told that Hitler was dead. Seeing this as a great propaganda photo opportunity, Khaldei immediately climbs the staircase of the gate and places a Russian flag at the top with the bronze horses. Khaldei was determined to place another Red Army flag at the top of the Reichstag. When he reached the burnt out structure, fighting was still going on in the basement. Khaldei and three comrades ascended to the roof of the Reichstag, which was slippery with blood from the fierce fighting just hours before. Khaldei then snapped one the most dramatic images of the century as the Russian soldiers raised the Soviet flag over the Reichstag.

That is the official story, but here is where things get interesting. It seems that the famous scene was not the original but a staged reenactment! Apparently one of the soldiers in the photo, Mikhail Karia, was wearing several wristwatches, and Soviet authorities ruled that it would not be in Russia’s best interest to show the Red Army looting Europe, so they had Khaldei go back and shoot the scene again!

This made Lieutenant Yevgeny Khaldei quite upset. Being Mikhail’s commanding officer, Khaldei confiscated the watches from Mikhail Karia. Upon inspecting the wristwatches, Khaldei discovers that the watches are actually Soviet issue military wristwatches! He learns from Mikhail that the watches were not looted from any dead German soldiers after all. One of the watches was Mikhail’s own watch, and the other he had retrieved from the lifeless body of his comrade and life long best friend. A friend who, just a few days past, had been shot in a German sniper attack and had died in Mikhail’s own arms. Being Mikhail’s commanding officer, Khaldei took it upon himself, as his duty, to take the watch and attempt to return it to the family of the fallen soldier.

(Go to ** http://www.fanshop-online.de/fahnen-flaggen-infos/su%5Evctry.html ** for more details.)

Here is the original, pre- reenactment photo by Yevgeny Khaldei showing the soldier Mikhail Karia wearing two wristwatches, one on each wrist:

(Go to ** http://www.schicklerart.com/exh/khaldei/khaldei_selected_photographs.html ** for more photos.)

1946 - World War II has ended:

(Go to ** http://stud1.tuwien.ac.at/~e9125985/IJC/Chronicles/Timeline/1922-1960.html ** for timeline reference.)

Indiana Jones goes to Russia at the request of the Soviet government to evaluate ancient artifacts. He travels to Russia via the Barents Sea. Aboard his transport he meets Yevgeny Khaldei, a staff photographer at the Tass news agency and commissioned lieutenant in the Soviet army. The same Yevgeny Khaldei that took those famous photos of the Red Army victory over the Nazis. Having heard many stories of one another, Indy and Yevgeny strike up a friendship. Yevgeny, being unsuccessful in finding the family for the watch still in his possession, decides to offer it as a gift to Indy. Yevgeny also takes this opportunity to take a photo of Indiana Jones on their transport on the Barents Sea.

Here is the photo of Indiana Jones on the Barents Sea taken by Yevgeny Khaldei. If you look closely you may be able to make out the watch on Indy’s wrist:

(Go to ** http://www.enterworldpressphoto.com/editie3/close_up.php?image=9&gallery=closeup ** for photo reference.)

The Indiana Jones WWII Russian Military Wristwatch:

The watch itself is a Russian Military 24-hours mechanical wristwatch made by Raketa in the original Petrodvoretz Watch Factory. The watch factory is located in the city of Petrodvoretz and since 1935 has become the leading watch manufacturer in Russia. The watch tells time in a 24-hour format rather than the standard 12-hour found in most watches. This makes it perfect for archeologists as well as military personal because even indoors or underground you will know whether the time is morning or afternoon. It has a mechanical 19 ruby jewels 2623 H movement. White 24-hours dial with a central second hand. Case is 40 mm x h 11 mm, made from stainless alloy neusilber. It has a rotating dial (bezel ring) that makes it a "World Time" watch as it can indicate the local time in different cities.

Here is a close-up of the now famous World War II Russian military wristwatch that was removed from a fallen Red Army Soldier and eventually became Indy’s first wristwatch.

Conclusion:

There you have it, the official - unofficial account of how Indiana Jones acquired his little known World War II Russian military wristwatch. We never see this watch in any of Indy’s adventure movies because those films all take place before the end of World War II. Thus this account can be considered to be 100% fictionally accurate and, as promised, has been substantiated through actual historical accounts and photographs! I hope you have enjoyed this incredible story! Contact me at jags@gte.net if you have any questions or comments.

Happy Digging!

Indiana Bond