Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition WWII German Wehrmacht (Heer) EM/NCO’s Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). The Buckle design features a smooth outer field with central, high relief, embossed Wehrmacht eagle with down swept wings to slightly domed center, encompassed by an oak-leaf cluster to bottom and bears the Heer motto GOTT MIT UNS, (God with us), on the top. The oak-leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and encircled by an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. This is a great early war olive field grey painted steel construction box buckle with a smooth background. The buckle is in great condition, with almost all of the original paint, and just some oxidation and wear from storage. It does not appear to have been used on a belt for any significant amount of time.
The back of the buckle is nicely stamped with maker mark R. S. & S., for R. Sieper & Sohne of Lüdenscheid, Germany, a city with a very large garment accessories industry. The buckle also still retains its original leather pull tab, which has a clear maker marking, although the bottom with the city is cut off:
R. SIEPER & SOHNE
1940
[LÜDENSCHEID]
The heather of the pull tab is in very good shape, with no gears and a lovely light brown color. There are a few wrinkles from storage, but it’s really a great example.
Overall condition is excellent, with an exceptional eye appeal!
On January 24TH 1936 a new pattern Enlisted Men and Non-Commissioned Officer’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the previously worn Weimar era Reichsheer buckle. The basic design of the Reichsheer buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht style national eagle. This pattern buckle was worn through-out the Third Reich period with minor manufacturing variations.