Steel Hitler Youth Buckle – M4/46

Product Description: This Steel Hitler Youth Buckle is a textbook original, that shows only light wear. The front retains more than 90 percent of the original silver finish, with some wear to the central diamond swastika emblem and other high points of the design. The exposed bare steel has taken on some dark patination from age, that contrasts with the intact silvering. The reverse is extremely clean, with virtually all of the original finish intact. The catch for the belt hook, and the roller bar and prongs assembly for affixing this to a belt, are both made of steel, and are complete and functional, with no repairs. The reverse of the buckle is marked near the catch with the round RZM logo of the Reichszeugmeisterei, as well as the code “M4/46” indicating manufacture by the firm of Wilhelm Schröder & Co. This steel Hitler Youth buckle is a nice wartime piece, with very attractive finish and a great look. It’s in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The belt buckle was an important part of the regalia worn by all uniformed military, civil, political and paramilitary organizations during the Third Reich. The belt (“Koppel”) was part of the uniform and would always be worn while on duty. The belt buckle (“Koppelschloss”) was generally specific to each organization, with many organizations having separate belt buckles for officers and for enlisted personnel, sometimes with different colors and finishes to further denote specific purposes. The buckles were adorned with various mottos and designs specific to the organizations for which they were intended. Many designs used the German national eagle emblem, in a variety of forms. Belt buckles were worn with uniforms ranging from finely tailored officer parade uniforms, to the issue uniforms of enlisted soldiers in combat. Generally speaking, most German belt buckles of the Third Reich were made with two prongs on the reverse, to allow the buckle to be worn and adjusted on a belt. The buckle had a catch that would mate with a hook on the belt, when worn. The earliest Third Reich buckles were often made of brass, or nickel silver. Later, aluminum became very common, and was used on private purchase as well as enlisted buckles of the German military, with or without a painted or plated finish. After WWII began, most enlisted military buckles were steel. Nazi belt buckles were popular souvenirs for Allied troops who served in Europe. Some types were made by the millions and remain quite common today. Others were made in limited numbers and are very rare.

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