1938 Kreigsmarine Combat Belt & Tabbed Buckle – Aluminum

Product Description: This is a very nice, honest Kreigsmarine Combat Belt & Tabbed Buckle set, dating to 1938, and showing exactly the kind of combat wear and “been there” character collectors prize.

The buckle is a prewar enlisted-issue example, constructed of aluminum, with its original brown leather tab clearly maker marked Kugel & Fink, Lüdenscheid, 1938. The buckle shows heavy, even wear with a pleasing patina. Traces of the original field-grey painted finish remain, especially on the reverse, providing a striking contrast against the bare aluminum on the worn high points and the darker paint preserved in the recesses of the design. The buckle retains its complete construction, with integral catch, aluminum roller bar, and prongs assembly. The leather tab is still held firmly in place with the original factory stitching.

The leather belt matches the buckle perfectly in age and use, measuring approximately 37 ½ inches. It retains its original leather tongue for buckle attachment, which is still complete and affixed with factory stitching. The interior shows a faint but indecipherable maker mark, along with a clear Kriegsmarine eagle “M” stamp. The belt hook is also marked L&F.

This appealing Kreigsmarine Combat Belt & Tabbed Buckle set has exactly the right look for a wartime combat mannequin or will display beautifully as a stand-alone piece, evoking the service life of the German Navy during WWII. Overall, the condition of the set rates excellent, with a desirable and untouched field-worn appearance.

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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