H022058 EM/NCO'S LEATHER BELT. (Koppel)

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 24^TH 1936 a new pattern EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the previously worn Weimar era Reichsheer buckle. The basic design of the Reichsheer buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht 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. 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. This example appears to be a private purchase model intended for wear with the M35 dress tunic, with a glossy black patent finished obverse and a fabric covered reverse.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: EM/NCO’s leather construction waist belt with a glossy black patent finished obverse is roughly, 1 3/4" wide and 38 1/2" long, with a leather retaining tongue and a nickel/silver plated, steel buckle catch both intact. The buckle catch is rivetted to one end of the belt. The reverse of the belt has remnants of a mottled grey felt backing and some unusual small depressions and surface tracking scars. The age darkened natural tan leather retaining tongue has its original stitching and seven pair of parallel, punched, length adjustment buckling eyelets. The retaining tongue has a faint black size inkstamp, "96". The glossy black patent finish didn’t wear well and shows light to moderate surface scarring and cracking through-out. The belt also shows moderate chafe wear and light surface spotting to the buckle catch. The belt would fit sizes ranging from a roughly, 32" to a 36" waist.

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