Aluminum DAF Buckle, RZM M4/27

Product Description: This is an extremely attractive example of an aluminum DAF buckle, in near mint condition. This pattern of belt buckle was worn by personnel of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor Front), the trade union association in Germany during the Third Reich. This aluminum DAF buckle is likely a prewar example. This buckle pattern features a bold representation of the DAF organizational emblem- a swastika inside a toothed gear.  The front of this buckle is extremely clean and shows no sign of wear. The reverse of the buckle is well marked and features the RZM logo of the Reichszeugmeisterei as well as the maker code M4/27, indicating manufacture by the firm of Overhoff & Cie. in Ludenscheid. There is some extremely minor age patination and toning to the reverse of the buckle, as well as the nickel plated steel prong attachment for affixing this to a belt. This aluminum DAF buckle is nearly perfect and is complete in all aspects. It’s an extremely desirable example of this buckle, one of the scarcer of the civil organization buckles.

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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