L003996 EM/NCO'S TROPICAL BELT & BELT BUCKLE. (Koppel und Koppelschloß)

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 leather 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 army’s 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. In 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. One of the items introduced was the canvas web construction waist belt. Eventually, due to leather shortages, many of the tropical uniform and equipment items would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe and other theatres of battle.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 1940 pattern, stamped steel construction, box buckle, with a dark blue/black finish. The buckle features a smooth outer field with a central embossed, horizontally oval, laurel leaf wreath encompassing a slightly domed, pebbled inner field with an embossed, second pattern, (Circa 1937/1938 1945), Luftwaffe eagle with out stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in its talons, to the center. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse, excluding the pebbled inner field. The reverse has the brazed buckle catch, prong bar and prongs all intact. Leather pull tab is maker marked to Assmann and dated for 1941. Comes with the scarce, blue, 95cm long tropical belt. Leather size adjustment tab is original, but the catch is repaired. Hard to find!

GRADE ****                             PRICE $1,109.00

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

MILITARIA WANTED!  If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below