Heer Enlisted Tropical Buckle with Web Tab – G. Brehmer

Product Description: This Heer Enlisted Tropical Buckle is a really nice representative example of this sought-after type. These tropical buckles were the type worn by the Afrikakorps. This steel buckle retains nearly all of the original field gray green paint. The obverse shows slight wear, with scattered small marks and scratches and just a bit of old rust. The reverse of the buckle is all steel, with a functional roller bar and prongs assembly and a typical spot-welded catch. The buckle is marked on the edge near the catch with “GB 40” indicating manufacture by Gustav Brehmer in 1940, very early in the production of these tropical items. The roller bar retains the original tropical type webbing tab. The tab is in a nice green color associated with early, desirable production. The tab shows some wear that perfectly matches the buckle and is held in place with all of the original stitching. This Heer Enlisted Tropical Buckle is a choice piece that remains in excellent condition.

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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