Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Zollgrenzschutz Land Customs Officer aluminum brocade belt buckle in very good condition. It is of multi-piece aluminum construction and retains the attached rear box loop, though the matching adjustable box loop for the opposite side of the belt is not included. The brocade belt itself is also not present.

The buckle measures approximately 55mm x 50mm and has a slightly convex oval form. The reverse is fitted with the attachment hook and still retains the box loop used to secure this half of the buckle to the belt.

The obverse features a finely pebbled central field surrounded by a highly stylized wreath of oak leaves, whose deeply modeled form has an almost acanthus-like appearance. Centered over the field is a prominent Reichsadler eagle with outstretched wings extending across the wreath nearly to the outer edges of the buckle.

The reverse was inspected for manufacturer or other identifying markings, but none were observed.

Overall condition is very good. The aluminum surfaces show only light oxidation and minor wear to the raised areas of the obverse. The reverse also shows handling and contact marks around the attachment hook consistent with actual use.

With its multi-piece aluminum construction, large spread wing eagle, finely pebbled field, elaborate oak leaf wreath, and surviving rear attachment hardware, this is a particularly attractive Zollgrenzschutz Land Customs Officer belt buckle. The light oxidation, surface wear, use marks around the hook, missing opposite adjustment loop, and absence of the brocade belt are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a German Customs, Zollgrenzschutz officer uniform, brocade belt fitting, or advanced German WWII insignia and accoutrement collection.

More on the German Customs Service:
The German Customs Service can be traced back to 1834 when a Customs Union was formed to allow the separate German States to trade amongst themselves without trade and tariff taxes, while still imposing import trade taxes on other European nations. With the unification of the German States into a single nation in 1871 the Customs Service became a national paramilitary organization, under control of the Reichsfinanzministerium, (National Finance Ministry), in Berlin. The national Customs Service was still responsible for imposing and collecting import trade taxes but was also tasked with border defense duties.

In 1936 the Customs Service was reorganized and given further policing responsibilities including the apprehension of individuals attempting to escape from the NSDAP’s yoke. The German Customs service was divided into two separate branches with one branch consisting of the Landzollbeamte (Land Customs Officials), which was subdivided into the Zollgrenzschutz (Land Customs Border Guards), and the Wasserzollbeamte (Water Customs Officials), and the second branch consisting of the remaining Zollbeamte (Customs Officials).

On June 17TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany including the Customs service. As a result of this appointment new regulations were instituted, in July 1936, to bring about uniformity in dress and included new insignia for the Customs personnel.