BACKGROUND: A new brocade belt and belt buckle were originally introduced by Wilhelm I in 1869 for wear by naval Officer’s with the formal evening dress, dress, parade and walking out uniforms and the full dress and service dress on special occasions. In 1902 Wilhelm II altered the dress buckle by the adding his "W" monogram cypher superimposed over the fouled anchor. On December 15TH 1921 the Weimar era Reichsmarine introduced a new brocade belt and buckle which followed the basic design of the Imperial brocade belt and dress buckle but eliminated the crown and "W" monogram. After Hitler’s rise to power the reorganized Kriegsmarine retained the Reichsmarine brocade belt and dress buckle for Line Officer’s. Originally the buckles were only produced with a gilt finish until 1934 when a silver version for Administrative Officers was introduced.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly 95cm long, 50mm wide, woven, bright, silver/aluminum construction brocade belt with vertically ribbing. The belt has two, parallel, charcoal grey, horizontal stripes which alternate on every second vertical rib of the woven brocade. The belt has two vertical loop retainers with one situated on either side of the buckle. The loop retainers are in the same brocade as the belt but have the ribbing and the charcoal stripes aligned horizontally. The retaining loop to the buckle catch end is machine stitched in place while the retaining loop to the buckle end is movable to adjust for different sizes. The reverse of the belt is lined in protective navy blue wool. Original dagger support rings complete. The buckle catch end of the belt has a gilt washed alloy belt catch inserted and stitched between the obverse brocade and the reverse wool backing. The belt comes with a roughly, 60mm diameter brass/tombak buckle which features an embossed, laurel leaf wreath encompassing an embossed, vertical, fouled anchor, on a slightly domed, horizontally ribbed field. The outer edge of the buckle conforms to the shape of the laurel leaves. The reverse of the buckle has a central circular depression and crimped, integral, buckle catch and retainer both intact. The buckle retainer is secure to an opened, rectangular, buckle keeper which is looped around the belt. Nice worn and used example showing the expected age and wear. The belt has lost most of its original silver, these will commonly flake off with age.