{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-rare-tropical-afrika-korps-dak-web-belt-with-steel-buckle-by-dransfeld-co","title":"Original German WWII Rare Tropical Afrika Korps DAK Web Belt with Steel Buckle by Dransfeld \u0026 Co.","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt with correct EM\/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). Nice solid used originals such as this example are very hard to come by.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuckle is die-stamped steel (magnetic), with an olive drab finish. Marking on the reverse are concealed by original paint. The front of the buckle is embossed with Wehrmacht eagle and motto “Gott Mit Uns” (God With Us). About 80% of the original paint remains on the front of the buckle, while the back has almost all of the paint intact. Definitely a very nice example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inside of the buckle is also marked faintly \u003cstrong\u003eD.\u0026amp;C. 194[1]\u003c\/strong\u003e for Dransfeld \u0026amp; Co., located in Menden, Germany. The maker markings of this company had the last digit added manually, and many examples such as this one missing the last digit have been seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe DAK tan colored web belt has a brown leather tab with the usual seven double vertically holes for length adjustment. The brown end stitching is intact, and the belt measures 39 inches in overall length. Condition of the webbing is very good, with just a bit of fraying and staining in areas, probably from the belt buckle. The belt tab was moved back about 3 inches at some point, so maximum length is probably closer to 36 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a fantastic example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the German Africa Corps\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":30291070287941,"sku":"ONSV3886","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV3886__08.jpg?v=1596137563","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-rare-tropical-afrika-korps-dak-web-belt-with-steel-buckle-by-dransfeld-co","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}