BACKGROUND: Military belts and their corresponding buckles date back centuries and were initially designed for attaching swords and daggers. In 1847 a new innovative box buckle with a quick release catch and corresponding belt were introduced which resulted in a Prussian, Hauptmann Virschow, initiating a new method of carrying personal equipment with the belt and shoulder straps supporting the majority of the weight. This system, with modifications, remains in use in most of the armies in the world to this day. During the Third Reich there was a prescribed form of wear of the belt and buckle with the buckle being positioned on the right side and the corresponding buckle catch on the left side. On January 24TH 1936 a new pattern EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the previously worn Weimar era, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), belt buckle. The basic design of the Reichswehr buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), style national eagle. This pattern buckle was worn through-out the Third Reich period with minor manufacturing variations and different colored finishes. The colored finish was determined by regulations depending on what form of uniform it was to be worn with. Of Note: Originally military buckles produced under government contract had the addition of a leather, (canvas web for tropical buckles), tabs which were designed to help support the ammunition pouches and prevent slippage but regulations in 1942 discontinued the tabs to preserve leather although the directive was not completely adhered to. Originally all EM/NCO’s belts were produced in a blackened leather until late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941 and included a canvas web construction waist belt. Eventually, due to leather shortages the canvas web belts were also issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe and other theatres of battle. Another later war expedient was the production of preßstoff, (Pressed Cardboard), and other ersatz material belts. The ersatz construction belts were only issued in limited quantities.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Field-grey painted, die stamped steel construction, combat box buckle features a smooth outer field with a high relief, embossed Wehrmacht eagle with down swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, to the slightly domed center, encompassed by an oak-leaf cluster to the bottom and script, "Gott Mit Uns", (God With Us), to the top. The oak-leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and are encircled by both an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. The buckle retains about 95% of its original field-grey paint with a few small scrapes and scuffs revealing the base steel with minor surface spotting. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse and the brazed buckle catch, prong bar and prongs are all intact. Unmarked. The buckle comes complete with a roughly, 45 wide, 100cm long, M43/ M44 pattern, blackened leather belt with a painted steel buckle catch and buckle retaining tongue both intact. The buckle catch end of the belt is folded over to the reverse and stitched down to secure the buckle catch. The rounded off end of the belt is well marked with the impressed size numeral, "100". The M43/M44 version did not have the separate leather retaining tab, but rather had its eight sets of holes punched directly into the belt as a material on time saving measure. The belt is in excellent condition and is still fairly supple. Nice set!