Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine lightly used condition WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt with correct EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). The buckle is die-stamped steel (magnetic), with a lovely DAK Olive Green finish. The front of the buckle is embossed with Wehrmacht eagle and motto GOTT MIT UNS (God With Us). It shows only light wear to the paint on the front, with just the smallest bit of wear through on the eagle and on the bottom edge. The reverse is in even better condition, except for the length adjustment claw, which shows paint loss and oxidation.

The the reverse of the buckle is nicely stamped with maker mark N & H 1941, for Noelle & Hueck of Lüdenscheid, a Germany city with a large garment accessory industry. It does not have a leather tab presently, and may have been made without one, but the paint loss on the claw suggests that it had one that over time deteriorated.

The very good condition DAK tan colored web belt has a web tab with the usual double row of seven holes for length adjustment. The olive tan end stitching on both ends is still in great shape, and the belt measures 39 inches in overall length. It is marked 100 on the buckle end, for 100cm (39.4 inches), and is in excellent condition, with just a bit of oxidation on the painted steel end clip.

Overall a great lightly used example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!

History of the German Africa Corps
The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (Deutsches Afrikakorps or 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.