Hitler Youth Buckle – Assmann

Product Description: This is an outstanding example of a Hitler Youth Buckle. This is the standard pattern as worn by personnel of the Hitlerjugend. This one is a desirable, early, high quality variant, made of nickel silver. The obverse shows some honest wear, with scattered light marks and a moderate, uncleaned age patina to the surface. The reverse of this attractive Hitler Youth Buckle shows a heavy original patina throughout. It’s well marked with the commercial style maker emblem of the firm of F. W. Assmann in Lüdencheid, as well as the round RZM logo and the Assmann maker code “17.” It’s also stamped with “Ges. Gesch.” indicating a legally protected design. The catch for the belt hook and the roller bar and prongs assembly are both complete and functional with no repairs. Overall, the condition of this charming and nicely marked buckle rates as excellent.

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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