Original German WWII HJ Leather Knife Belt with Steel Buckle by F. W. Assmann & Söhne – RZM M4/39 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII German HJ steel Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß), complete with the correct leather belt. It is embossed with the HJ motto Blut und Ehre (Blood and Honor) around the HJ Emblem surmounted by an Eagle. The buckle is in good shape for its age but is rather tarnished. It is marked on the back with ((RZM)) and maker code M4 / 39, for F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, a German city known for its clothing accessories industry. This maker is particularly well known, and had other factories as well.

The thick leather belt is in good condition, but much of the black finish has worn off, and it measures about 30” when fully extended. The belt shows heavy wear so it was likely worn for a long period.

This is a very lovely complete HJ Knife belt with some nice features, ready for further research and display!

The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M4 in the code stands for belt buckles, contractor 39 stands for firm F. W. Assmann & Söhne.

AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend) was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (AH Jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. The boys only were given HJ Knives after having passed minor exams. The knives had nickeled hilts with black checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swas insignia. Through 1937, these knives were etched with the motto of the organization, Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!). Examples produced after this date were made with plain blades usually bearing an RZM marking.

The HJ Leaders were professionals in charge of the training and NSDAP education of the German Youth. They wore a special dagger consisting of silvered hilt fittings with blue-black leather-covered scabbard. The grip was composed of tightly wrapped silver wire, over a wood base. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond on top, complete with swas. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged HJ eagle with swas cut into the bird’s chest. The blade was etched with the HJ motto, Blut und Ehre