Condition: Near Mint
Maker: Unmarked
Base Material: Aluminum
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Product Description: This State Forestry Officials Buckle is an outstanding, unissued piece. It’s made of aluminum. The front of this scarce buckle depicts a political-style German national eagle and swastika emblem, on an oval pebbled roundel that is encircled by a wreath of oak leaves. There is no wear, no evident sign of age. All of the original detail is intact. This buckle never had any paint, and polished highlights contrast beautifully with the matte finish of the bare aluminum. The reverse is clean and pristine, with an integral catch and a fitting for affixing this to a Forestry brocade belt. This is a great example of a hard to find State Forestry Officials Buckle, that remains in near mint condition. It would likely be impossible to upgrade.
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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