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 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. 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early, (circa 1936-1940), field-grey painted, injection molded aluminum construction, box buckle features a pebbled background outer field with a high relief, embossed, Wehrmacht eagle with down swept wings to the slightly domed center, encompassed by an embossed 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. As is typical with the early aluminum buckles, most of the paint remaining to the front can be found in the recessed areas as they all tended to wear that way. The reverse has the integral, raised, slotted buckle catch and separate prong bar and prongs all intact. The buckle is maker marked "GD .Gd" for Gebrüder Deyhle in Gmund. The prong bar has an age and usage darkened, natural tan leather tab machine stitched around it. The leather tab is well marked with stamped manufacturers name, location and date within an oval cartouche, "Gebrüder Deyhle" and "Schwab Gmund" and is dated for 1938. Scarce maker.