White Leather Cartouche Belt and Pouch

[RobertE]

Folks, I have seen these in brocade, but not like this. This heavy belt strap is marked 1937 or 1938, and has been treated with some type of white high-gloss finish. The cartridge pouch is the standard brown police type, similarly treated.

I think it was used post war, as it has two holes on the pouch lid that while obscured when the eagle is in place, are there nonetheless.

A standard pouch eagle's loops perfectly align with the slots on the case.

I've heard of white brocade belts, but what about this belt? Would it have been converted for post-war use? Seems an unlikely accessory to use much after the war, but who knows?

[RobertE]

pouch

[RobertE]

This eagle fits it -

[RobertE]

standard enough on reverse; plainly started life as a brown version

[RobertE]

Heavy duty belt -

[RobertE]

Pebbled aluminum fittings -

[RobertE]

Exceptionally well made, IMO, and marked "Po"

[RobertE]

Doesn't show well, but definately 193-something dated...

[RobertE]

Other random markings, note Po -

[W.Unland]

Hello,

Well, no doubt the belt and pouch are period, but that "white" job is really messy. White belts were used by OrPo NCO's for parade purposes BUT the pouches remained black, or brown, as the case may be, and to my knowledge were never white.

W.Unland

[RobertE]

Interesting, thanks Bill. The paint is old, so may have been used post-war for some traffic duty.

[Dave C.]

Robert,

It appears like you have an original TR era bandoleer and cartouche box for other ranks of the Gendarmerie that was subsequently & sloppily covered up in white. The other holes in the box would certainly make me think this was altered for some possible postwar parade/band/traffic use. Like Bill said, boxes remained true to the branch and white wasn't an option on them despite several other accessories altered with a white finish such as frogs, belts, bandoleers, and band related accessories. TR traffic police had brown cartouche boxes (with gold toned metal police insignia) as well as brown belt and bandoleer. Again, it appears altered for some possible postwar parade/band/traffic use.

[juoneen]

Could it be whitewashed for the russian front. (or dress)

[Ernst-H]

Could it be whitewashed for the russian front. (or dress)

I see no reason why.

The belt being made white for paradepurposes I can imagine....but the white box makes no sense to me at all from 1936-1945 perspective


look at this link where I posted a Schupo parade bandelier in correct configuration:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=407864

[JoeW]

I have a wonderful Gendarmerie brown bandelier that was modified for post war use by staining it black. What a waste.