"What's the special story behind this watch?" The children were overjoyed and crowded around Li Du. They stared at Li Du like hungry puppies looking at a bone, waiting for him to tell them the story.
Li Du smiled and said, "Does everyone know about World War II?"
The children nodded. "The evil war waged by Germany and the crazy Japanese military." "My grandfather's father participated in it. He was in the navy and fought against the Japanese navy's ships." "I'm Chinese. My parents told me that it was the worst war!"
Li Du also nodded. He said, "During World War II, Rolex had gained a considerable reputation. British Royal Air Force pilots bought Rolexes to replace their watches that were not accurate enough."
"However, when they were arrested and sent to prison camps, their watches were all confiscated. But many people still wanted to have a watch. Around 1942, a British pilot was shot down during an air raid. After he was captured, he was placed in the third prison camp. Then he ordered a timepiece from Rolex and expressed his dissatisfaction with the Germans for confiscating his watch.
"When the German Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, heard about this, he offered to replace the confiscated watches for the officers of the prison camp without paying any fees until the end of the war."
"Do you know what this means?" Li Du asked.
Victoria said enthusiastically, "It means that Rolex can give British pilots free watches to use. This is his compensation for the pilots as a German, right?"
Li Du nodded. "Yes, and there is a hidden meaning in this CEO's approach. He is not optimistic that Germany will win the war. He thinks that the Allies will win in the end. In fact, this is a businessman's investment.
"After this incident, some of the British officers wrote letters to Wilsdorf explaining which prison camp they were being held in and how their Rolexes were confiscated."
"No other evidence was needed. CEO Wilsdorf said that he fully believed the words of the British officers in the letters. The words in the letters were reliable evidence, as reliable as British bonds.
"Just like that, everyone who sent an order letter received a Rolex 3525, a limited-edition modified 3525 specially produced for pilots."
"But that was during the war. Rolex's actions were tantamount to funding the enemy, so every watch was not easy to deliver. But Rolex showed extraordinary dedication to these customers. All the orders were followed up with Hans Welsdorf's signature."
"The thing that made this watch famous was about to happen. On March 10, 1943, a British pilot corporal named Clive Nadine ordered a stainless steel Rolex from Wilsdorf …"
Hearing this, a teacher in his fifties smiled and said, "Ah, I know. This is indeed a big event. The Great Escape of Victory is about to begin!"
Li Du nodded and smiled at him. "Yes, the watch this corporal ordered is the 3525. Because it has a steel casing, it is hard and reliable. It is equipped with the famous Valjoux23 chronograph movement and is equipped with a luminous radium dial. It can also be used at night."
"The price of this watch is quite high. Nadine was prepared to use the money he earned as a shoemaker in the prison camp to pay for the Rolex. On July 3 of the same year, a Rolex was sent to the prison camp. President Wilsdorf also wrote a note to Nadine, telling him that a British gentleman like Nadine didn't need to worry about paying for the watch, and that everything could wait until after the war. "
Some children whose parents were businessmen could not help but exclaim, "This is really a bold president. He did something amazing."
Li Du smiled and continued, "As I said just now, this watch is not ordinary. It is more accurate, can be used at night, and is sturdy and durable. The reason why this watch is needed is because Corporal Nadine and the others came up with an escape plan, a plan to escape from the prison camp!"
"This Rolex was used to time the Great Escape. It was used to calculate the patrol schedule of the prison guards and the time needed to pass through the tunnel on March 24, 1944."
"Actually, after the escape plan was drawn up, the 600 captives dug three escape tunnels in the past few months. One of them was useless, and the other was discovered by the German guards. Only the tunnel named 'Harry' was completed in March 1944."
"On that night when the moonlight was weak, they began to move. The airmen lined up in silence and passed through the tunnel one by one, hoping that 200 of them could pass through occupied Europe and return home. "
"The order of escape was decided by drawing lots. The corporal drew number 67, but unfortunately, not long after, the escape was discovered by the guards and the tunnel was closed. In the end, only a small number of people made it out, not including this brave corporal."
"This escape made Hitler very angry. He ordered the execution of a group of people, and one of them was Corporal Nadine, who was the leader of the group …"
Hearing this, some of the children could not help but burst into tears.
Li Du did not continue. He touched the hair of the children around him, handed the watch to them, and let them look at it one by one. Then he said, "This is the legend of the POW watch. This watch is not only a tool to measure time, but also a symbol of the responsibility of a businessman and the determination of a group of warriors who yearn for freedom!"
"Long live freedom, my children!"
The group of children followed suit and shouted, "Long live freedom!"
Principal Kane led the teachers and parents in applauding with all their might. They looked at Li Du with admiration.
Li Du led the children to tidy up the storage unit and played games in the afternoon. This one-day social practice was over, but Li Du was very busy.
Finally, after sending all the students to school, Li Du breathed a sigh of relief and said to the principal, "Fortunately, I did not disappoint you."
Headmaster Kane praised, "Not only that, but your performance was amazing. You know too much. Where did you learn so many things from?"
Li Du smiled and said, "I learned from one of my partners, but he is no longer around."
The principal hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, I brought up your sad story. May God bless him, and may he be happy in heaven …"
Li Du's face was blank. "Uh, I mean he is no longer in this industry. He is not dead, he just got married, and he is alive and well."
The principal was speechless.
What had happened today had filled him with emotion. He had brought the children to learn about the storage auction industry, just like when Hans had brought him to his first auction.
Everything seemed like yesterday. When he turned around, it was as if he could still see the figure of the man sitting in front of Hannah's building with his legs spread open like a hooligan.
But this was not yesterday. This was many years ago.
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