Original German WWII Luftwaffe Deutsches Afrikakorp DAK Hate Belt with Buckle Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. American soldiers were known for their love of souvenirs in the Great War; So, a lot of material history of the war came across the Atlantic with returning soldiers. Among collectors of military memorabilia from World War Two “HATE BELTS” are items of interest.

This is a rare totally genuine WWII DAK tropical waist belt with aluminum Luftwaffe buckle. Buckle is die-stamped and embossed with Luftwaffe eagle measuring 2.5” x 2”. The belt is Khaki colored webbing with intact leather tab with seven double vertically holes for length adjustment; measuring 35″ x 1 3/4”. On it own this is a very good condition example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Luftwaffe Deutsches Afrika Korps, DAK. But that is the least of the appeal of this belt!

This incredible belt feature 18 WW2 badges, pins, and insignia from the Axis nations of German and Italy (who the Allies were fighting in North Africa). This is one of the most stunning examples of a hate belt we’ve ever seen.

Items on the belt include: German Wound Badge, Stalag 184 Prisoner of War Camp Identification tag, DAK sun helmet badges, Luftwaffe eagle  pin, Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, even an Arabic marked pen knife and so much more. Some of these items are stitched in place and others are pinned. This is truly an incredible one-of-a-kind piece from North Africa in World War Two!

German soldiers’ leather belts, and other belts from participating armies, that were festooned with buttons from soldiers uniforms are called Hate Belts / Souvenir Belts / Grave Digger Belts. These made for excellent collector’s pieces.

“Hate Belt”: the idea was that if an American soldier had killed or captured a German soldier, then he would have the button from the newly deceased or captured soldier attached to his belt as a kind of notch of conquest on his belt. This, no doubt, is the most intriguing explanation for those decorative belts.

“Souvenir Belt”: this description is apt for many of the belts that are in circulation today. The souvenir belt would involve a German infantryman’s belt being decorated with buttons and tabs from troops BOTH Allied and AXIS Powers and kept as a remembrance of The War.

“Grave Digger Belt” description is self explanatory, to a degree. Troops burying dead soldiers would sometimes remove buttons from those they buried as a remembrance. It is impossible to determine the origin of most belts, but some of these highly collectible belts provide some hints as to their origin. Nevertheless, these belts provide for excellent points of interest for collectors.