Original German WWII Early SA EM/NCO Belt with Two Piece Brass & Nickel Buckle and Cross Straps – Sturmabteilung Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII German Sturmabteilung (SA) EM/NCO’s Brass Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß) with correct leather belt and scarce cross straps. The front of the buckle features an embossed insignia showing the standard NSDAP Political eagle with downward sloping wings, and the early “Sunwheel” style Swas (hook cross). This example is a two piece example, with a stamped brass body, stamped catch, and soldered on front nickel insignia. We checked the back, and there are no maker markings, but that is fairly typical for SA belts buckles.

The belt itself is a Size 96, marked on the end, for 96cm (37.8 in.). It measures roughly 37 ½” fully stretched out. The back of the belt itself is felt-lined which is a great detail, something we have only seen a few times before. There is a large but faint stamping on the belt K.Mz-Staffel 3/10, but this is likely an incomplete marking. 

The cross straps are a fantastic addition to this belt and both of the hooks are pebbled & gold-washed with RZM markings on the back ((RZM)) M5/72, for Paul Cramer & Co., Lüdenscheid. The back of the cross strap itself is also marked ((RZM)) L2/399/38, though we unfortunately do not have any listings of the leather suppliers. The fittings all have a bit of verdigris about them. The buckle and catches on the cross strap are also pebbled and gold-washed, with most of the gold-wash retained.

This is one of the best SA belts we have ever offered, and the first we have ever offered with a cross-strap. Comes ready for further research and display.

The SA, “Sturmabteilung” (Storm-troops), were originally formed in August of 1921 as a protective guard unit for the political leaders of the fledgling NSDAP Party. As with the NSDAP, “Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei” (National-socialist German Worker’s-party), the SA was structured along para-military lines. Most of its recruits were from the ranks of the various “Freikorps” groups of the day, composed mainly of disgruntled ex-soldiers, and they were first utilized at a NSDAP party meeting in Munich in November of 1921.

The SA pattern box buckle was the first belt buckle to be introduced by the NSDAP, with its estimated introductory dates ranging between 1921 and 1923. On its introduction it was not fully standardized and came in at least five variations. The SA pattern buckle was originally worn by other NSDAP organizations including the SS, the NSKK, the NSBO, and political leaders.

Unfortunately, the ambition and socialist leanings of the SA eventually came into conflict with the goals of the rest of the party, and in 1934 the group leadership was purged, and by 1936 the buckle was officially replaced, though many still wore them.