Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Airforce) EM/NCO’S BELT & BELT BUCKLE. (Koppel und Koppelschloß) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified

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Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Airforce) EM/NCO’S BELT & BELT BUCKLE. (Koppel und Koppelschloß) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified. 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. During the Third Reich there was a prescribed form of wear of the belt and buckle with the buckle being positioned on the right side and the corresponding buckle catch on the left side. First introduced on May 20TH 1935, the Luftwaffe EM/NCO’s belt buckle underwent minor modifications in late 1937 or early 1938 with a new pattern eagle and again in 1940 with a slight difference in construction. Of Note: Luftwaffe personnel initially utilized brown leather accouterments but during the war the leather items were generally blackened. 1940 pattern, die stamped, steel construction, box buckle. Features a smooth outer field with a central, embossed, high relief, horizontally oval, laurel leaf wreath encompassing a domed, pebbled inner field with an embossed, second pattern, (Circa 1937/1938-1945), Luftwaffe eagle, with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, to the center. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse and has the brazed on buckle catch, prong bar and prongs all intact. Comes with a nice complete 100cm leather belt.  . Shows the expected age, wear and use.  Buckle shows loss of paint. In good but combat used condition . Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic brought home by a U.S. Veteran. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site. Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers.