Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine German WWII Kriegsmarine Officer's Tropical Web Belt, as used by the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) in North Africa. These are thinner than the usual waist belt used, and were not intended to carry any kind of equipment, made from tropical olive webbing measuring 1 7/16" in width. The design is similar to the officer's brocade belt, and has a gold washed alloy Kriegsmarine buckle, which attaches to a double loop claw on the other side. We were not able to see any maker markings on the belt, and there does not appear to be much information on them.

The buckle is stitched into the belt, which has a stitched on leather length adjustment tab, as typical with German WWII belts. The belt looks to originally have been adjustable from approximately 42" to 39 1/2", however an additional row of holes was added close to where the leather adjustment tag attaches to the web, allowing it to shorten to 37 1/2".

Overall condition is very good, showing some stitch repairs to the belt and oxidation to the double loop hook clip. The webbing is in solid condition, showing just some light staining and no cuts or other damage.

Overall a great example of a very rare Tropical Kriegsmarine Officer belt and buckle as used with the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!

History of the German Africa Korps

The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term "Afrika Korps" is pseudo-German (so-called "cod-German"), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The dry climate of Africa proved to be an issue with much of the standard leather field gear that the German Army usually used. It would dry out and crack quickly, and become unusable. To deal with this, the standard field gear such as belts, Y-straps, A-frames, bayonet frogs, and other items, were issued in special tropical web versions.