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, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), 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 Reichswehr 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: Nice quality, later production, roughly, 1 3/4" wide, 41 1/2" long, leather belt with a fine impressed stripe near the top and bottom edges and 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 with an additional three pair of punched, parallel, length adjustment buckling eyelets The reverse of the belt is in age and usage darkened, natural tan of the leather. The buckle has a subtly pebbled obverse and a smooth reverse and only retains hints of its original silver wash indicating it was intended for Company and Field Grade officers ranks. The belt also has a vertical, sliding leather loop intact. Both the belt and the buckle have an unusual, stamped, national eagle marking and the reverse of the belt has the stamped size numeral, "105", and the manufacturer’s name, location and date, "C. Riese Berlin 1942". The belt is in very overall good condition with light chafe wear and the leather is still quite supple and pliable. The belt would fit waist sizes ranging from roughly, 30" to 39".

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $238.00