BACKGROUND: The DRK, "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz" (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929. In December 1937 it gained status as a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany, it came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organization.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: DRK Samaritan pattern, 65mm x 50mm (for the standard 45mm belt), slightly convex, stamped alloy, nickel/silver plated, two-piece construction buckle. The front face plate features the DRK cross (With the letter S) encompassed by a 45mm dual rope border with a spray of oak leaves to its base. To the reverse is its braised buckle catch, and a prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt's retaining tongue. Several dents to the face plate and the prongs are now missing. Face plate I’m guessing is now glued on somehow. Too bad about the damage, but still a hard buckle to find.