Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII early pattern SS EM/NCO nickel silver belt buckle, or Koppelschloß, manufactured by Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid. It is an appealing early example with solid nickel alloy construction, a well defined high relief central design, lightly oxidized surfaces, and the desirable O & C ges. gesch. maker marking on the reverse.

The face of the buckle features the characteristic SS national eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a wreath surrounding a static swas. This central motif is enclosed by a circular simulated twisted rope border and the Gothic script motto:

Meine Ehre heißt Treue!

meaning “My Honor is Loyalty.” The motto and central design are set against a pebbled background, with the raised details still clearly defined.

The nickel silver body has developed a pleasing lightly oxidized patina with scattered handling wear. There is some light deformation to the buckle body, but the overall shape and embossed detail remain well preserved.

The adjustment claw assembly is aluminum and remains in very good condition. The claws show some old oxidation from prolonged contact with the leather belt.

The reverse is marked:

O&C ges. gesch.

identifying Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid. The abbreviation ges. gesch. stands for Gesetzlich Geschützt, indicating that the design was legally protected.

Overhoff & Cie. was closely associated with early production of this pattern and is one of the best known manufacturers encountered on surviving SS belt buckles.

The nickel alloy, often referred to by collectors as German silver or nickel silver, is characteristic of early production. Later examples transitioned to aluminum alloy construction and eventually to steel, making the nickel silver body one of the strongest dating and collector features of this buckle.

With its early nickel silver construction, strong embossed detail, lightly oxidized patina, aluminum adjustment claw, and clear O & C ges. gesch Overhoff & Cie. marking, this is a very appealing early SS EM/NCO belt buckle. The light wear, minor body deformation, and oxidation to the adjustment claws are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an early SS uniform equipment, Overhoff & Cie. maker, German WWII belt buckle, or advanced field gear collection.

History of the SS

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 under the auspices of the SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH (Shock Troops). It was then redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925, with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9th 1925.

As a subordinate unit to the SA, early SS personnel wore the standard SA style box belt buckle. It is believed that Adolf AH personally designed a new pattern box belt buckle specifically for wear by SS EM/NCO personnel with the manufacturing patent being originally granted to the Overhoff & Cie. firm in Lüdenscheid. This new style buckle was adopted for wear by EM/NCO personnel in late 1931 or early 1932. Generally the early buckles were produced in solid nickel/silver until sometime in 1936 when aluminum alloys replaced the nickel/silver versions. In 1940 the EM/NCO's belt buckles began to be manufactured in steel replacing the aluminum alloy buckles.  The steel buckles were zinc coated than painted grey.