Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition WWII German NSDAP Leibriemenschloß für Politische Leiter (Belt Buckle for Political Leader), with the correct thick leather belt. The circular Political Leader’s buckle was introduced in 1940, a double open-claw buckle having been used prior to that. Prior to 1934, the SA Belt and buckle were used, but after 1940 this more ornate buckle was used.

The buckle is constructed of gold washed aluminum, and has a spread-winged NSDAP eagle with a wreathed, mobile swas in its talons. Encircling the eagle is a wreath of oak leaves, which the eagle’s wings extend into. The reverse of the buckle is concave, and has the buckle catch, which on the other end is crimped around the rectangular keeper. The outside of the keeper has an embossed oak leaf motif, while the inside has the claw for attaching to the buckle. The buckle shows very little use, with just a bit of light wear to the gold wash on the edges and contact points. The opposite clasp shows about the same level of wear.

The back of the buckle is marked with an ((RZM)) circle and with the code M4/22, for Christian Theodor Dicke of Lüdenscheid, a city with a very large garment accessories industry. The opposite clasp is marked on the back RZM M4/27, for Overhoff & Cie., also of Lüdenscheid. The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles.

The clip end of the belt has a maker marking and date:

((RZM)) Kernstück
L2 / 1081 / 41

There is unfortunately not any listing of the leather suppliers in the RZM currently available, so we cannot identify the maker. There is also actually an RZM L1/24 ink stamp on the leather itself, possibly indicating who supplied the maker. The belt measures 49 1/2” long and is in excellent condition, showing little to no wear from use. It is stamped with size 115 on the buckle end, which would be for 115cm or 45.3 inches, which we assume is the smallest size it was designed to fit. 

Finding belts with buckles in this barely used condition is extremely difficult. Ready to add to your German Belt Collection!