{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-daf-labor-front-leather-belt-with-aluminum-werkschar-buckle-by-steinhauer-luck-of-ludenscheid-rzm-m4-49","title":"Original German WWII DAF Labor Front Leather Belt with Aluminum Werkschar Buckle by Steinhauer \u0026 Lück of Lüdenscheid - RZM M4\/49","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeutsche Arbeitsfront\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (German Labor Front or DAF) leather belt fitted with an aluminum \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWerkschar-Koppelschloß\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Factory Brigade belt buckle). Both the belt and buckle remain in excellent condition, showing only light wear from service and storage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe face of the buckle features the DAF emblem, consisting of a fourteen tooth cogwheel surrounding a swas. A small embossed circular bead is positioned in each corner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a two piece buckle constructed with a stamped aluminum box body and a separately soldered catch loop. The hooked adjustment claw is made from plated steel and is attached to the buckle body by a peened securing pin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse of the buckle is marked near the catch:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKH M4\/49\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(RZM) (LST)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe DAF buckle marking system did not always follow the same format encountered on other RZM controlled equipment, which accounts for the combination of markings seen here. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eM4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e portion of the code denotes the RZM category for belt buckles, while manufacturer number \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e49\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e identifies \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteinhauer \u0026amp; Lück of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The additional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLST\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e marking appears to be the company’s period trademark.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLüdenscheid was an important center of German metalworking and supported numerous firms that manufactured belt buckles, buttons, badges, uniform fittings, and other metal accessories. Steinhauer \u0026amp; Lück became one of the city’s best known manufacturers of insignia, decorations, and uniform equipment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReichszeugmeisterei\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or RZM, was the NSDAP’s national materials control and licensing organization. It regulated the production and distribution of political uniforms, insignia, equipment, and related articles. The RZM established design and manufacturing standards, licensed approved producers, inspected finished products, and assigned coded manufacturer numbers. Its offices and principal facilities were located in Munich.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe black leather belt remains in very good condition. Much of the original glossy black exterior finish is still present, with expected wear where the buckle contacted and adjusted against the leather.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe belt measures approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e43 inches overall\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Near the buckle end it is marked:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeibweite 108\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis translates to “Waist Measurement 108,” indicating a nominal waist size of 108cm, or approximately 42.5 inches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe full length leather adjustment tab remains present and has two parallel rows of seven adjustment holes. The opposite end retains its plated steel buckle hook.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe inside of the adjustment tab is marked:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(RZM) L2\/2819\/30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eL2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e category is associated with licensed manufacturers of leather equipment. However, we have not been able to identify the specific maker assigned license number \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2819\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the meaning of the final \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains uncertain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe belt is in excellent overall condition, with only light wear from use and no major storage damage. The buckle retains strong embossed detail, an attractive aluminum finish, and its complete original attachment hardware.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFollowing the dissolution of Germany’s independent trade unions in May 1933, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeutsche Arbeitsfront\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was established as the state controlled organization responsible for workers and employers. It was intended to replace the former trade union structure and organize labor within German industry and commerce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn October 1934, the DAF received official status as a subdivision of the NSDAP. In March 1936, it was recognized as an independent NSDAP affiliated association and was granted control of its own budget.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first pattern DAF uniform was introduced in 1934 for members of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDAF-Werkscharen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or Factory Brigades. These formations were organized within industrial workplaces and wore distinctive uniforms and insignia. The aluminum DAF belt buckle was introduced during late 1935 for wear by all ranks of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWerkscharen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of a well preserved black leather belt, complete adjustment tab, clearly marked Steinhauer \u0026amp; Lück aluminum buckle, and still unidentified leather maker code makes this a particularly interesting and complete example of DAF \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWerkschar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e uniform equipment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44968826044485,"sku":"ONSV26NCS037","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26NCS037__01.jpg?v=1778090446","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-daf-labor-front-leather-belt-with-aluminum-werkschar-buckle-by-steinhauer-luck-of-ludenscheid-rzm-m4-49","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}