Condition: Very Good
Maker Mark: RZM M4/22 (C. T. Dicke)
Metal: Aluminum
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Product Description: This SA Wehrmannschaft EM Buckle is an extremely rare original. It’s an early buckle, made of aluminum, and has a very striking design, featuring a large and bold German national eagle and swastika emblem with a wingspan larger than the central roundel. The front of this rare buckle shows some light wear, and some toning from age, but retains loads of original detail. It never had any finish, as is typical for this buckle type. The reverse of this SA Wehrmannschaft EM Buckle has a matching light age patina. It has an integral, molded catch for the belt hook, and an intact and functional roller bar and prongs assembly for affixing it to a leather belt. Near the catch, it is well marked with the round “RZM” logo of the Reichszeugmeisterei as well as the manufacturer code “M4/22” which indicates that this buckle was made by the firm of Christian Theodor Dicke in Lüdenscheid. The overall condition of this SA Wehrmannschaft EM Buckle is very good. It makes for an impressive display piece.
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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