I am sorry, for taking so long, answering your question. I have had serious computer problems. I have not seen the compass documented in any modern publications. A friend of mine has one of these compasses, and he got it directly from an unopened box. The box contained about twenty of these tiny compasses. The box had luftwaffe approval markings. Conserning it's intended use, I guess that it would be the same as the similar british escape compass, that is to hide it on your person, so that the airman could use it in the event of a future escape attempt. I belive that these compasses are quite rare. I have personally only seen two. both of them in Norway. All the best Snoopy