Early Waffen-SS Belt and Buckle – Overhoff & Cie – Personalized

Product Description: This is a textbook Waffen-SS Belt and Buckle – Overhoff & Cie – Personalized enlisted man’s belt and buckle set, displaying a highly desirable combat-carried appearance. It is a fine representative example of the late wartime production style, with the unmistakable look of an original field-worn buckle.

The nickel silver buckle is Marked RZM 36/36 for Overhoff & Cie., the most prolific and recognized maker of SS belt buckles. The obverse shows significant period wear, with some denting and scratching from service use, leaving an authentic combat patina. Despite this, the eagle and the “Meine Ehre heißt Treue” motto remain exceptionally crisp, reflecting the high-quality die work associated with Overhoff. The back of the buckle shows corrosion to the bar, and the lower head of the bar is missing but still wide enough to keep it in place.

The leather belt is marked size 95 and measures approximately 37 inches. Its age and wear match the buckle perfectly, leaving little doubt that the two have been together since the period. The overall presentation is that of an untouched, honest set with exactly the kind of combat-worn character collectors prize.

Inside of leather belt has been hand carved with “SS Malht Josef SS – Amerikaner in Hollangeladet – 21 Mai 1944” or Americans in the Netherlands.  Interesting piece all around.

In all, this is a very attractive and well-preserved Waffen-SS belt and buckle set, offering textbook late-war features, strong originality, and an unmistakably authentic look.

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.