Wiseguy A
Registered User
- Messages
- 105
- Location
- City of Angels
Swiss watch sales were badly hit by the war, especially after Germany invaded unoccupied Vichy France in November 1942, and neutral Switzerland found itself completely encircled by Axis powers. Watch companies were cut off from their best customers, the British and Americans.
Rolex, however, discovered that there were plenty of British and Americans right on Switzerland’s doorstep — literally a captive market — in German prisoner-of-war camps. Stalag Luft III, for example, housed up to 10,000 Allied airmen, shot down in operations over occupied Europe. Thousands more Allied officers were interned in the various Oflag (officer’s POW camps) scattered throughout the German Reich.
Rolex offered watches to the soldiers on a 'buy-now-pay-whenever' deal. "You must not even THINK of settling your bill before the war ends."
http://www.timezone.com/library/extras/200704246126
Amazing story
Rolex, however, discovered that there were plenty of British and Americans right on Switzerland’s doorstep — literally a captive market — in German prisoner-of-war camps. Stalag Luft III, for example, housed up to 10,000 Allied airmen, shot down in operations over occupied Europe. Thousands more Allied officers were interned in the various Oflag (officer’s POW camps) scattered throughout the German Reich.
Rolex offered watches to the soldiers on a 'buy-now-pay-whenever' deal. "You must not even THINK of settling your bill before the war ends."
http://www.timezone.com/library/extras/200704246126
Amazing story
