WWI IMPERIAL GERMAN BELT BUCKLE PRUSSIAN WÜRTTEMBG

WW1 Imperial German Belt Buckle lot to include 1) REICHSWEHR EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. A 43mm, die stamped, single piece, nickel construction, box buckle features a pebbled outer field with a high relief, embossed, Weimar style, national eagle with down-swept wings, to the slightly domed, smooth finished, center, encompassed by a laurel leaf cluster to the bottom and script, "Gott Mit Uns", (God With Us), to the top. The laurel leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and are encircled by both an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. The reverse of the buckle is complete with both a soldered catch and prong bar and prongs all intact. Military belts and their corresponding buckles date back centuries and were initially designed for attaching swords and daggers. In 1847 a new innovative box buckle with a quick release catch and corresponding belt were introduced which resulted in a Prussian, Hauptmann Virschow, initiating a new method of carrying personal equipment with the belt and shoulder straps supporting the majority of the weight. This system, with modifications, remains in use in most of the armies in the world to this day. The Weimar era, (circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), belt buckle was introduced in May 1919, for wear by EM/NCO personnel serving in both the Reichsheer, (National Army), and the Reichsmarine, (National Navy), with a different colored finish for each branch of service. Although introduced in May 1919 the belt buckle wasn’t widely distributed until 1921. The buckle retained the same basic design as the Imperial German belt buckle but replaced the Imperial crown with the newly introduced national eagle. The Reichswehr era belt buckles were most commonly manufactured in solid nickel/silver although steel buckles were also produced. Of Note: On January 24TH 1936 a new pattern EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the Reichswehr belt buckles although both were worn concurrently for a short period of time. The new pattern belt buckles retained the basic design of the Reichsheer belt buckles with the addition of the new Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), style national eagle. 2) M1915 PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. A one-piece construction wartime M1915 Prussian belt buckle, painted field grey (mostly worn off from use), as was the practice after January of 1915. The slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. The standard Prussian box belt buckle was first introduced in 1847 for wear by enlisted rank personnel. Originally the box buckles came in a 50mm, (roughly 2 inches), width until 1895 when the width was reduced to 45mm, (roughly 1 3/4 inches), in an attempt to lighten the weight load of the field gear. Initially the buckles were produced of brass with a nickel/silver face plate until 1914 when steel construction buckles were introduced. This style of buckle was also used by the Prussian-dominated states of Baden, Oldenburg, Hansa and Thuringia. The belt for the field uniform was originally of tanned leather, but blackened leather was re-introduced in 1915. 3) PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE.1895 pattern, two-piece brass and nickel/silver construction Prussian belt buckle. The 48mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. Dent to the face plate. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Small dent to the crown on the face plate and a tiny crack on the bottom of the buckle. 4) WÜRTTEMBERG EM/NCO’s BELT BUCKLE. A fine example of a first war period imperial EM/NCO’s belt buckle; constructed of brass; the obverse with a raised field depicting the Württemberger Coat of Arms, surrounded by two circular ropes with “Furchtlos und Trew” (Fearless and Loyal) inscribed in raised lettering on the top half of the circle, and two laurel stems tied together on the bottom half; the reverse with a soldered-on catch, complete with it’s dual-prong cross bar; unmarked; measuring 61 mm (w) x 47 mm (h); in overall near very fine condition. 5) PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE.1895 pattern, two-piece brass and nickel/silver construction Prussian belt buckle. The 48mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. Dent to the face plate. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Small dent to the crown on the face plate and a tiny crack on the bottom of the buckle.