Original Items: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII German NSDAP Leibriemenschloß für Politische Leiter (Belt Buckle for Political Leader), with the correct thick leather belt, and a lovely "high-front" break away brown leather holster. 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 only light use, with just a bit of wear to the gold wash on the edges and contact points. The opposite clasp shows more wear, with a good bit of the gold wash removed.

The back of the buckle is marked with an ((RZM)) circle and with the code M4/39, while the clasp on the belt is marked with the circle and code M4/46. The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was 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 M4 in the code system stands for buckles, and registrant 39 is F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, a large maker of belts, buttons, and other accoutrements.  Registrant 77 is Gebrüder Gloerfeld, also of Lüdenscheid, which had a large number of companies who made buckles, buttons, and other clothing items.

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

((RZM)) L2/682/42
KERNSTÜCK

There is unfortunately not any listing of the leather suppliers in the RZM currently available, but it does seem that the belt was made in 1942. The belt measures about 40” long and is in good shape without any serious flaws. There is some scuffing and wrinkling to the brown finish, but otherwise it is a great example. Finding belts with buckles in this lightly worn condition is extremely difficult.

The included holster shows a bit more wear than the belt, and is the typical type that would be used to hold a 7.65mm semi-automatic pistol, such as a Walther PP, very popular at the time. It is nicely broken in, and we can see from staining that it did hold a pistol of some type for a long period of time.

A nice NSDAP Political Leader Belt rig, ready to add to your German Belt Collection!