Tabbed Reichswehr Belt Buckle – Schmole & Comp.

Product Description: This tabbed Reichswehr Belt Buckle is a really handsome example, with great character. It is a high quality piece made of nickel silver. The front shows wear, with a dark finish remaining in the recesses. There is a slight loss of detail to the high points from wear, and the bare nickel silver has a nice, mellow luster. There are some small, scattered marks and areas of built-up patina here and there. The reverse of the buckle is hollow with a dark look. There is no maker mark, which is typical for these. The catch and roller bar assembly are intact with no issues. The roller bar retains an original leather tab, which is still held in place with all of the original hand stitching. The tab is maker marked and dated “Schmole & Comp. 1930.” The brown leather of the tab retains all of the original surface, with some typical age darkening after nearly 100 years. This tabbed Reichswehr Belt Buckle is choice, and is 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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