Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt, with correct Luftwaffe EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). It is embossed with the wartime Luftwaffe straight tail eagle on a pebbled central field, surrounded by a wreath. The buckle is of 1940 pattern, die stamped, steel (magnetic) construction, with a dark Luftwaffe blue grey painted finish, which is still present on over 80% of the front side, with a bit of wear and oxidation. The reverse has even more original paint present, and there are no marking stamped into the metal.

The leather tab is still present, though definitely a bit worn and folded from use and age. the reverse is in a bit better shape, and is nicely maker stamped inside a small shield design with:

The DAK tan colored web belt has a brown leather tab with the usual double rows of seven holes for length adjustment, with the leather displaying a lovely chestnut brown color. The belt shows moderate wear overall with light staining, and under the tab the belt is marked Voigt L 20664, which we assume is either the soldier who wore it, or who captured it. Both ends of the belt have tan stitching at the cut ends to prevent further fraying. The belt is marked with 90 on the buckle end, for 90cm (35.4in.), and there is also a maker marking on the clip end with a date, though they are in stamped and unclear.

Overall a lovely example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Luftwaffe division of the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!

History of the German Africa Corps

The Afrikakorps 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 unit's best known commander was 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.