{"product_id":"original-german-early-wwii-1938-dated-aluminum-ss-em-nco-belt-buckle-rzm-822-38-ss-1","title":"Original German Early WWII 1938 Dated Aluminum SS EM\/NCO Belt Buckle - RZM 822\/38 SS","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German pre-WWII SS Enlisted Man\/Non-Commissioned Officer aluminum box belt buckle (Koppelschloß), clearly dated 1938 by the markings on the reverse. This is a well-used example with plenty of period character, while still retaining strong detail to the raised design and a very clear \u003cstrong\u003eRZM 822\/38 \u003cem\u003eᛋᛋ\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e marking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe buckle is of one-piece cast aluminum alloy construction. The obverse features the characteristic SS pattern, with a national eagle with outstretched wings above a wreath enclosing a stationary swas. Surrounding the central design is the Gothic-script SS motto \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeine Ehre Heißt Treue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, generally translated as \"My Honor is Loyalty\", set between twisted-rope borders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall condition is good and honestly service-used. The aluminum surface shows scattered scratches and areas of dark and reddish-brown age staining and oxidation deposits. These are most noticeable around portions of the lower wreath, along the edges, and in several areas on the reverse. The raised eagle, wreath, motto, and central swas. nevertheless remain well defined, giving the buckle a very attractive worn appearance without losing the important design details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse shows the recessed impression of the obverse design and retains the complete buckle hardware. The catch, prong bar, and both attachment prongs are present and intact. Beneath the catch is the clearly impressed marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e((RZM)) 822\/38 (\u003cem\u003eᛋᛋ\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe marking consists of the circular RZM trademark, the contract number 822\/38, and the SS runes within a circle. The 38 identifies this as 1938 production. The contract number 822 is commonly attributed in specialist buckle references to \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Sieper \u0026amp; Söhne of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, although surviving documentation concerning these particular SS contract numbers is incomplete, so the maker attribution is best regarded as the accepted collector attribution rather than absolute documentary identification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis buckle dates from the prewar aluminum-production period. The earliest SS EM\/NCO buckles were manufactured principally in nickel-silver, with aluminum construction becoming established during the latter half of the 1930s. Around 1940, aluminum was largely superseded by steel for this type of buckle, making this 1938 example a representative piece from the relatively short-lived aluminum phase of production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SS itself traced its origins to the small Stabswache formed in 1923 and subsequently reorganized as the Stoßtrupp H. That organization was dissolved following the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923. After the NSDAP was re-established in 1925, a new protective formation was organized, and the name Schutzstaffel, or SS, was adopted during that year. The organization initially remained subordinate to the SA, and early SS personnel used SA-style belt buckles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker's Party), as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA Quartermaster's Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized. Starting in late 1934 items manufactured for the SS came under the quality control of the RZM and as a result were to be marked with the RZM\/SS approval\/acceptance mark. In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over their uniform item production and no longer fell under the authority of the RZM.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45588855717957,"sku":"ONSV26EMC147","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/8463FFBE-7853-4D66-8B28-0ED02B7EB45D.jpg?v=1787597830","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-early-wwii-1938-dated-aluminum-ss-em-nco-belt-buckle-rzm-822-38-ss-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}