Koppel &
koppelschloß
Belt by Wittkop
& Co in Bielefeld, dated 1942. Initialy developed for warm and
dry
climates, tropical gear gradually came in use on all fronts.
[Tropical gear][Hide]
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"Unlike the unfortunate Wehrmacht
soldiers on the Eastern Front who suffered the horrors of the Russian
winter of 1941/42 in clothing suitable only for moderate climates, the
soldiers of the Afrikakorps were well equipped.
As soon as German involvement in the Merditerranean area and Middle
east began to seem likely the Tropical Institute of Hamburg University
was commissioned to develop a range of tropical uniforms, and by late
1940 large stocks were allready available"
Source:
Osprey Elite series #34 "Afrikakorps 1941/43
"Special equipment items were manufactered for use
in North Africa from
late 1940 to 1942 to withstand the rigours of a hot dry climate. For
almost all items of the basic Continental rifleman's equipment there
was a tropical counterpart. Due to the deteriorating supply situation
little tropical equipment was issued after early 1942.
Collectors
are quick to note the scarcity of actual tropical equipment; it appears
that huge quantities of captured gear were burned by the allies after
the May 1943 German capitulation in North Afrika."
The manufacture of canvas/web equipment was increased from 1943, the
purpose of its issue was to conserve leather and provide more durable
and lighter weight equipment, and as such it was widely issued in the
Continent.
Source:
Osprey Men at arms series #234 "German combat equipment 1939-1945".
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Die stamped steel buckle painted field grey, by G.H. Osang in Dresden
dated 1940.
[Design and color][Hide]
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On January 24TH 1936 a new pattern
EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the
previously worn Weimar era Reichsheer buckle. The basic design of the
Reichsheer buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht
style national eagle. This pattern buckle was worn through-out the
Third Reich period with minor manufacturing variations and different
colored finishes.
The colored finish was determined by regulations
depending on what form of uniform it was to be worn with.
Source:
www.germanmilitaria.com
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Koppelschloß
Heer
Another Osang example but from 1941, again
die stamped steel painted field grey.
Oval stamp stating "*G.H. Osang - 1941 -
Dresden*"
Luftwaffe
Die stamped, steel construction.
Made by Hermann Aurich from Dresden, in
1941. The reverse of the buckle bearing their stamped H over A mark.
