Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine lightly used condition WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt with a correct early issue EM/NCO's painted pebbled aluminum Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). The buckle is a nice injection molded aluminum construction box buckle with a pebbled background, and has 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 a few areas worn through, particularly on the eagle. The the reverse of the buckle is nicely stamped with maker mark H.K., for Hermann Koller of Pforzheim, Germany, a city with a very large garment accessories industry. There was probably a leather tab on the buckle originally but it is no longer present.

The very good condition DAK tan colored web belt has a leather tab with the usual double row of seven holes for length adjustment, which is just a bit stiff due to age. The tan end stitching on both ends is still in great shape, and the belt measures 32 inches in overall length. There is no size marking on the belt, but the underside of the leather tab is stamped with RBNr. 0/0675/0122 stamped near the clip end. The belt shows very little wear, with just a few stains and light fraying on the edges.

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.