Heer Buckle CTD 1943

Product Description: This Heer Buckle CTD 1943 is an outstanding example of this belt buckle type. It is made of steel, and is the standard wartime pattern worn by enlisted men and NCOs of the German Army. The obverse shows only extremely slight wear, and still retains about 95 percent of the original factory applied dark green paint. The areas where the paint has flaked are small, and there is almost none of the rub wear that one expects on a worn buckle; it’s possible that this buckle was never issued. The reverse of this fine buckle also retains nearly all of the original paint, with a slight amount of old dust showing that it has never been cleaned. This buckle is nice and complete, with a typical steel roller bar and prongs assembly for affixing it to a belt, and a spot welded catch for the belt hook. The undisturbed paint near the catch is another clue that this buckle was never worn on a belt. This buckle is well marked near the catch, with the initials “C.T.D.” indicating manufacture by the firm of Christian T. Dicke, and the date 1943. This Heer Buckle CTD 1943 is a choice piece, in excellent plus condition overall.

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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