Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt, with correct Luftwaffe EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). It is embossed with the wartime Luftwaffe straight tail eagle on a pebbled central field, surrounded by a wreath. The buckle is of 1940 pattern, die stamped, steel (magnetic) construction, with a dark Luftwaffe blue grey painted finish, which is still present about 30% on the front of the buckle.

The inside of the buckle has more of the original paint, and is marked near the loop with S (ARROW) C, the maker mark of Schmölle & Comp. of Menden, next to a 1940 date. This company is a known maker of Luftwaffe belt buckles, and as is typical the "ears" around the claw are very pronounced. The original leather tab is unfortunately missing.

The DAK tan colored web belt has a brown leather tab with the usual seven double vertically holes for length adjustment, though the leather is unfortunately dry and cracked. The buckle end has tan fabric sewn over the end to prevent fraying, and the olive tan end stitching near the clip is fully intact. The belt measures 40 1/2 inches in overall length. There is a faded marker mark by the clip end, which has an illegible top line over Berlin.

The belt is in very good condition, with very little wear, just some oxidation on the clip, and the previous mentioned leather deterioration.

Overall a lovely example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Luftwaffe division of the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!

History of the German Africa Corps

The Afrikakorps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The dry climate of Africa proved to be an issue with much of the standard leather field gear that the German Army usually used. It would dry out and crack quickly, and become unusable. To deal with this, the standard field gear such as belts, Y-straps, A-frames, bayonet frogs, and other items, were issued in special tropical web versions.