Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine service 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) inside a double rope border, with an oak leaf wreath at the bottom. It shows some light wear to the paint on the front, with some scratches, chips, and light oxidation. The reverse is in similar condition, and it does look like the belt buckle is slightly deformed.

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. The buckle still retains the leather tab, which is marked with the same information:

* NOELLE & HUECK *
1941
LÜDENSCHEID

The very good service used condition DAK olive colored web belt has a web tab with the usual double row of seven holes for length adjustment. It features a leather end protector on the buckle end, while the clip end has tan end stitching, and both show wear from service. The belt measures about 34 1/2 inches in overall length, and we were not able to find any markings on the belt. It definitely looks to have seen a good amount of service, and the stitching near the end clip is partly rotted out.

Overall a great service 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.