Heer Enlisted Buckle with Tab – JFS

Product Description: A well-preserved and visually compelling example, this Heer EM Buckle with Tab – JFS is constructed of steel and retains traces of its original field grey-green paint. The obverse displays an honest, service-worn appearance, with approximately half of the original finish worn away, revealing the underlying steel. The remaining paint in the recessed areas offers strong visual contrast, accentuating the raised details of the Wehrmacht eagle and “GOTT MIT UNS” motto. Some light wear is noted on the eagle’s chest feathers, consistent with age and use.

The reverse remains largely intact, retaining most of its original paint and featuring a welded catch for the belt hook along with the complete, functional roller bar and twin prong assembly. This Heer EM Buckle with Tab – JFS is accompanied by its original natural leather tab. Though age and surface wear have rendered the stamped maker mark on the tab illegible, the buckle itself is attributable to Josef Feix & Söhne, located in Gablonz an der Neiße—a noted wartime manufacturer.

An attractive and complete example of enlisted Wehrmacht field equipment, offered in excellent overall condition and with notable period character.

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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