BACKGROUND: Military belts and their corresponding buckles date back centuries and were initially designed for attaching swords and daggers. 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. The belt with open claw belt buckle was original worn during the Weimar Reichswehr era and continued into the Third Reich with minor modifications enacted in May 1934. The open claw belt buckle was authorized for wear by almost all political and military organizations during the Third Reich period with a variety of different institution dates. When worn by political personnel the buckle color was to match the button color of the uniform worn and when worn by military personnel the buckle color reflected Company and Field Grade or General Grade Officer ranks with silver for the Company and Field Grade ranks and gold for General Grade Officer ranks. 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. The German’s concern with leather shortages was evident as early as September 1939 when issue of the traditional tall leather marching boot was restricted to personnel serving in the field. During the war further leather shortages resulted in additional regulations that limited or restricted leather usage and included the narrowing of the standard 60mm, (2 1/2"), wide Officer’s leather belts to 45mm, (1 3/4"). The cross strap was also a carryover from the Weimar Reichsheer era and was intended for wear by Officers and Officials with equivalent Officer’s ranks with the Field, Service, Guard, and Reporting dress and as an optional item with the Undress uniform. On May 18^TH 1934 a new slightly modified belt and cross strap were introduced for Officer’s. On September 20^TH 1939 wear of the cross straps was abolished for all Officers of the field army and further regulations of November 29^TH 1939 abolished the cross straps of all officers. In 1941 the cross strap was reintroduced as an insignia of position for Train Commanders and Railway Station Guards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, early, roughly, 2 1/4" wide, 38" long, chocolate brown leather belt with a silver washed, open rectangular, dual claw, cast alloy construction belt buckle. The buckle is secured to the belt by a folded over section that is machine stitched to the reverse of the belt. The opposite end of the belt has a pointed tip and seven pair of punched, parallel, length adjustment buckling eyelets. The reverse of the belt has three, vertical, machine stitched on, leather loops with one positioned near the buckle end that secures a steel "D" ring, and the other two positioned near the center that secure an additional horizontal leather loop with a sliding, leather secured steel "D" ring. The "D" rings were designed to secure a cross-strap. The vertical leather loop near the buckle end is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s oak-leaf acorn and Trifos logo with the name and address, "Ewald Lüneschloss Solingen", and additional script, "Ges. Gesch.", indicating, Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected by Law). The buckle and "D" rings have a subtly pebbled obverses and smooth reverses and they have mostly reverted to the base alloy/steel. The silver coloration indicates it was intended for Company and Field Grade officers ranks. The belt is in overall good condition with light chafe wear and surface wrinkling and some faint moisture staining. The belt would fit waist sizes ranging from roughly, 28" to 35".

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE  SOLD