Luftwaffe Tropical Belt Buckle – HA42

Product Description: This Luftwaffe Tropical Belt Buckle is a scarce and very desirable variant, with Luftwaffe green tropical paint. The obverse is nearly pristine, with approximately 95% of its original factory applied green paint remaining, and only extremely slight wear to the high points of the design. All of the original detail is present. On the reverse, this Luftwaffe tropical belt buckle is marked near the catch with “HA42,” indicating manufacture by the firm of H. Arld of Nürnberg in 1942. The typical spot welded catch for the belt hook shows some wear, indicating that this buckle has been mounted to a belt. The green webbing web tab is missing. The attachment prongs are missing as well, and it is unknown as to why that is, as only the bar is present on the left side reverse, still riveted in place. There are no signs of the buckle ever having the two prong assembly. This is a sought-after and uncommon buckle, which would be perfect for a mannequin or display.

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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