{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-rare-tropical-afrikakorps-dak-web-belt-with-steel-buckle","title":"Original German WWII Rare Tropical Afrikakorps DAK Web Belt with Steel Buckle","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal 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 (\u003cem\u003eKoppelschloß\u003c\/em\u003e). The buckle is die-stamped steel (magnetic), with an olive gray finish. The front of the buckle is embossed with Wehrmacht eagle and motto \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGOTT MIT UNS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (God With Us). It definitely does show wear to the paint on the front, with some areas worn through, particularly on the eagle. There is a bit of oxidation, and the buckle also is slightly deformed, showing a bit of bending on both sides, making it slightly more curved than normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe DAK tan colored web belt has a web tab with the usual seven double vertically holes for length adjustment. The tan end stitching is fully intact, and the belt measures 33 inches in overall length. It is however marked 105 on the end, for 105cm (41.3inches). This belt has had the clip end unstitched, and then was shortened significantly by re-stitching it with much more overlap. This was done using machine stitching, so this was an arsenal level alteration. The webbing shows light staining and wear, and looks to have a faded maker marking near the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a nice honest service used 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\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (\u003cem\u003eDeutsches Afrikakorps or DAK\u003c\/em\u003e) 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.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40543869501509,"sku":"ONSV23SOS27","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV23SOS27__10.jpg?v=1679725290","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-rare-tropical-afrikakorps-dak-web-belt-with-steel-buckle","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}