Is this West German Police? Current or Obsolete?
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Checkit, not my focus of collecting but the coat of arms are those from the Rheinprovinz (Rhine Province), the most western province of Prussia. The province existed from 1822-1946, so this is the timefrime your belt buckle was in use most likely. For sure NO current belt buckle. Scroll down this site for the coat of armS' picture:
http://www.google.de/imgres?q=wappen...9,r:0,s:78,i:6
Regards
Lars -
Thank you, Lars. The subdued gold finish and the pebbling behind the shield looked like something post war. I will look into earlier time periods.Comment
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I doubt, that this is police. Looks like Prussian Feuerwehr for Rheinprovinz (like mentioned above), as Fw wear the province Wappen on belt buckle. Appear to be for all ranks, not only officers. Not sure when introduced (Weimarer Republic?), but worn in to early TR-era. I am sure that Police and Civil Organisations Subforum could give more backround.
Here is one for sale from German dealer:
http://www.huesken.com/shop/de/deuts...oss-25504.html
And this FFw website has some infos about Prussian Feuerwehr uniforms in German. Says, that belt buckle originally silver, but their examples look also bronze?
http://www.feuerwehr.saarlouis.de/ch...eg-1935.0.html
Regards
KlausComment
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Klaus,
The Feuerwehr Saarlouis site you linked to is really excellent. The text doesn't say so expressly, but the round buckles with province or city coat of arms were introduced in 1934 for all ranks as part of the standardised Prussian uniform (dress regulations published in the MBliV). They were replaced by the police buckles in 1936 when all fire brigades (now part of the police) were centralised at Reich level.
Regulations called for the round buckle to be burnished ("brüniert"), but silver and gilt examples are not uncommon.
Kind regards
KurtComment
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yes, it is excellent website. I forgot to mention, that it has many infos from BRD times also, so quite of interest to other members of the BRD subforum.
Regards
KlausComment
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