Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice condition WWII German Schutzstaffel (SS) EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß) with correct leather belt. This was purchased at a recent military show, and we were told that it was brought home by a USGI from Germany. It has had the swas (hook cross) in the center of the buckle removed, so it may have seen post war service, and was brought home by a member of the U.S. Occupation Forces.

The buckle is embossed with a high relief, embossed, central motif pattern consisting of an SS style national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching what was wreath, encompassing a static swas, now removed. These are in turn encompassed by a circular, simulated, twisted rope border with the Gothic script motto, Meine Ehre heißt Treue!, (My Honor is Loyalty!). The original blue gray paint on the buckle is mostly worn off the front, while the rear still shows a good amount. There is some oxidation where the paint is missing.

The rear of the buckle by the clasp loop is marked RODO, for maker Robert C. Dold of Offenburg. The Steel construction indicates construction after 1940, when the switch was made from aluminum to steel.

The black leather belt itself measures 34" when fully extended, and is marked with R.B.Nr. 0/0850/0189 on the end by the clip. It originally had a leather adjustment tab, but that was removed (stitching holes are still present) and holes for the buckle claw were added directly to the belt body. It is definitely broken in, but condition is solid with no holes or tears, and leather is soft and pliable. The finish is definitely worn on the exterior.

A very nice SS belt with "sanitized" buckle with loads of patina, brought home by a USGI after the war. Ready to add to your collection!

History of the SS

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 under the auspices of the SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH (Shock Troops). It was then redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925, with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9th 1925.

As a subordinate unit to the SA, early SS personnel wore the standard SA style box belt buckle. It is believed that Adolf AH personally designed a new pattern box belt buckle specifically for wear by SS EM/NCO personnel with the manufacturing patent being originally granted to the Overhoff & Cie. firm in Lüdenscheid. This new style buckle was adopted for wear by EM/NCO personnel in late 1931 or early 1932. Generally the early buckles were produced in solid nickel/silver until sometime in 1936 when aluminum alloys replaced the nickel/silver versions. In 1940 the EM/NCO's belt buckles began to be manufactured in steel replacing the aluminum alloy buckles. The steel buckles were zinc coated than painted grey.