Heer Dress Buckle – Zinc

Product Description:  This Heer Dress Buckle – Zinc presents with a crisply pebbled body, the silvered surface now subtly worn to reveal the subdued grey tones of the underlying zinc. The obverse is fitted with a separately affixed zinc roundel, finely executed with an eagle clutching a swastika, emblematic of the Wehrmacht’s iconic insignia. The detailing remains sharp, the design well-preserved.

The reverse exhibits a flat, smooth finish with some lightly pebbled areas, and is unmarked, consistent with many examples of this type from the period. All four roundel prongs remain intact and secure. The integral catch, along with the original roller bar and twin prong assembly, shows minor surface oxidation but no evidence of repair or tampering—an important indicator of authenticity and preservation.

Overall, this Heer Dress Buckle – Zinc survives in excellent condition, a notable specimen representative of early wartime issue and craftsmanship.

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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