Aluminum Heer EM Buckle

Product Description: This Aluminum Heer EM Buckle has a lot going for it. It’s an excellent example of the early type issue enlisted buckle, with a great look, made by a desirable maker, and dated 1940. The front of this buckle is missing most of the original field gray paint, as is typical with these, though traces of the paint remain in the recesses of the design. There is some evident wear to high points, but lots of detail remaining in areas like the eagle’s feathers and the oak leaf wreath. The reverse of this Aluminum Heer EM Buckle retains nearly all of the smooth early field gray paint finish, with some wear in places where it once rubbed against a leather belt. The aluminum roller bar and prongs assembly for affixing this to a belt is intact and functional. The catch for the belt hook is an integral molded piece as is typical for these. Near the edge of the buckle, is is clearly marked “S. H. u. Co. 40” indicating manufacture by the firm of Sohni Heubach u. Co. in Idar/Oberstein in 1940. This was a firm that also made war badges. The overall condition of this Aluminum Heer EM Buckle is very good. It has a lot of character and would look fantastic paired with a worn early combat tunic.

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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