|
Quantity
|
Total
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
An authentic German army (Heer) enlisted men's field belt buckle from the World War II period. The piece is manufactured as a precise stamped steel construction coated in its original factory field gray (feldgrau) paint. The obverse features a central circular medallion with the standard Wehrmacht eagle clutching a swastika, surrounded by the traditional combat motto "GOTT MIT UNS" and an oak leaf cluster on a smooth field, turning into a pebbled pattern on the outer sides. The buckle remains unified with a rare, original light brown leather adjustment tab secured by tight stitching. The leather bears an exceptionally crisp oval manufacturer's stamp reading "G. BREHMER MARKNEUKIRCHEN" along with the production year "1941". The reverse of the steel body displays the matching maker's stylized "GB" monogram stamped near the internal catch loop. The entire dual-prong assembly and catch system are completely intact, structurally solid, and functional. The surface shows honest field wear with minor paint thinning on the high spots, exposing the darkened steel beneath and providing an authentic combat appearance.
Historical context:
In 1940, German military regulations ordered a complete shift from aluminum buckle manufacturing to stamped steel due to resource restrictions. These new steel variations were factory-painted in a matte field gray finish to prevent corrosion and field reflections. Steel buckles produced during 1941 that still retain their original leather tabs belong to a highly desirable transitional group, as the inclusion of leather tabs was officially discontinued later that year to conserve strategic materials. The Gustav Brehmer factory in Markneukirchen was a prestigious supplier of medals and uniform hardware, making matching, dual-marked sets from this maker very sought after globally.