Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting service used WWII German Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor Front or DAF) Aluminum Werkschar-koppelschloß (Factory brigade belt buckle), which came to us with a short 2 3/4″ section of leather belt still attached to the end clip. This was clipped to the buckle backwards at some point, and now is wedged inside the buckle. The remainder of the belt was cut off, and we have not made any attempts to remove the belt section and clip to avoid damaging the buckle.
The front of the buckle is embossed with a fourteen tooth cogwheel encompassing a swas in the center. The buckle also has a small embossed circular bead to each corner. This example has a two piece buckle, with stamped aluminum single piece box construction with a soldered on hook loop. The hooked “claw” is also made from aluminum, attached to the buckle body by a peened over aluminum securing pin. We are not able to see any markings on the buckle due to the belt section being in the way, however the belt is marked with RBNr. 0/0917/002.
A very interesting belt buckle that surely saw service during the war. Ready to add to your collection!
With the dissolution of all Free Trade Unions in Germany in May 1933 the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, (German Labor Front), was established to replace the unions and to educate the workers in industry and commerce for smooth and efficient operation of all labor in the Third Reich. In October 1934 the DAF was given official status as a sub-section of the NSDAP and in March 1936 it was recognized as an independent NSDAP affiliated association and granted control of its own monetary budget. In 1934 the first pattern of DAF uniform was introduced for DAF Werkscharen, (Work Squads), and a belt buckle was introduced in late 1935 for wear by all ranks.