Hate Belts

[Jody]

Hi folks,
I talked about this some time ago, and since there appears to be more interest now, I will start up this thread. Who collects them? I do and love them. Here is one of the neatest I have seen and I was fortuante enough to obtain it. It is one of my favorite pieces.

The sad truth is that many of these belts have been stripped over the years. This one is untouched.
Jody

[Jody]

Hate Belt

Morepics.
Jody

[Jody]

More Pics

Another view.

[Jody]

Hate Belt

More pics.

[Jody]

Belt

More pics.

[Jody]

Belt

Another pic.

[WalterB]

Jody:

Could you tell me a little about these belts? Why are they called "hate" belts? Why are there items attached to the belt? I have heard the term hate belt used before, but I do not know what they are. Thanks in advance.

[Jody]

Hate Belts

Hi Walter,
The term Hate Belt is more of a collectors term. After the Great War many soldiers took captured German belts and adorned them with German, Turkish, or even Allied items. I have seen seen EKs, buttons, british cap badges, wound badges, Gallipoli Stars, etc, on them. Sometimes they even used empty machine gun belts, or even canvas straps, or gas mask straps if no belt was to be found.

The belts are rather rare today, since many dealers and collectors have stripped them of their goodies. I bet if a dealer had the belt I own, the gold wound badges would of not remained on it.

I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jody

[WalterB]

Very interesting! I guess in a way similar to a type of "trench art". Very cool. Thanks for the information.