US Veteran Bring-back Buckle Group with Letter of Designation

Product Description: This US Veteran Bringback Buckle Group with Letter of Designation is an outstanding grouping, consisting of  9 German buckles brought home by one US Veteran plus a letter describing each one. The veteran who took these had a good eye for souvenirs, as he scored some choice buckles. The veteran’s son stated that his father told him he had one of the German POW’s under his command, who could speak English, write on this piece of paper what each buckle was, and its meaning. Some of the words used on the paper would only be used by a German at the time, as this terminology was not in use among American soldiers of the era, nor among collectors later. The buckles in this grouping include an early aluminum droop tail Luftwaffe buckle, which shows some honest wear, and is maker marked on the reverse. There is also a Hitler Youth buckle in nickel, with a RZM maker designation on the reverse, and a very attractive DJ buckle, both with beautiful original finish. There is an aluminum RAD buckle, which shows almost no wear, that is maker marked and dated 1936, as well as a private purchase type Reichswehr buckle, a really interesting and scarce one-piece stamped SA buckle, a DAF buckle with RZM mark and maker code, and a very appealing early Bavarian buckle with DRGM mark on the reverse. A highlight is the outstanding early nickle silver SS buckle with rare “57” maker stamp. Most of the buckles are still numbered with cloth tape on the reverse, with the numbers corresponding perfectly to the letter. Even the original envelope for the letter is intact. This US Veteran Bringback Buckle Group is a very cool set, which still miraculously remains intact and not broken up. To find a group like this still together since 1945 is rare today, and the documentation from the veteran that ties it all together is the icing on the cake.

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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