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. The front features an embossed insignia with 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 insignia. We checked the back, and there are no maker markings, but that is fairly typical for SA belts buckles.
The belt itself measures about 38” when fully extended. The leather does show wear to the finish, but there is no cracking or tears, and it is still soft and pliable. The back of the belt is felt-lined which was occasionally done. The end clip is the early war aluminum type. The belt is marked Size 96 on the back, for 96cm (37.8 inches).
Overall a great example of a hard to find WW2 German Belt.
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.