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 August 4TH 1936 a new pattern EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the previously worn Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era belt buckle. The basic design of the Reichsmarine buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), style national eagle. The buckle was identical to the Army EM/NCO’s belt buckle but with a different colored finish. On introduction all Kriegsmarine EM/NCO’s belt buckles had a gilt finish, but in 1937 a dark blue/black finish was introduced for Coastal Artillery personnel, and at an unknown date field-grey buckles were introduced for wear with the field-grey uniforms. 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 March 1942 discontinued the tabs to preserve leather although the directive was not completely adhered to.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Standard issue, die stamped, steel construction box belt buckle with a bright, gilted finish features a smooth outer field with a high relief, embossed, Wehrmacht style eagle with down swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, on a subtly pebbled field to the center, encompassed by an 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 field and are encircled by both an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. The buckle retains over 95% of it’s original, fire gilted finish and is still quite clean and bright. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse and has the brazed, buckle catch, prong bar and prongs all intact. The reverse of the buckle is well marked with the embossed manufacturer’s initials with a rectangular recess, "J.F.S.", indicating manufacture by Josef Feix Söhne of Gablonz. Nice!