Heer officer's belt & buckle question

[Richard]

What type of belt & buckle was most frequently worn in combat by Heer officer's? I realize the buckle was most likely identical to the one on the brocade belt and that the belt was most likely black leather. With that said, I've never actually seen one offered for sale. Am I correct in my assessment and how rare are they if they don't seem to be as readily available as the officer's brocade?
Richard V

[Glenn McInnes]

Most period photos show officers wearing open claw buckles and enlisted buckles.

Never saw a pic of an Army officer wearing a brocade buckle on a black leather belt,(not to say that it was not done) SS officers had a similar version that they did wear in combat.

Glenn

[bnz. 42]

One month ago I bought this Heer officer's belt for my SS mannequin:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6531117181

but last week I bought SS brocade buckle and leather belt for it.

So I no longer need the Heer officer's belt and will be selling it for the same price I bought it ($140). By the way, the officer's belt is a hard-to-find thing for real and dealers' prices are much higher for it. PM me if interested.

[Richard]

I appreciate the offer but wasn't really looking for one to buy. I had seen several SS officer's combat belts for sale that utilized the same type buckle as the brocade belt and had assumed the Heer and possibly Luftwaffe may have, at one time, done the same. I suppose that both branches used the open claw buckle though. Were all the Heer open claw belts then black and the LW brown? I think I have seen brown open claws advertised as Heer as well.
Richard V

[Glenn McInnes]

I appreciate the offer but wasn't really looking for one to buy. I had seen several SS officer's combat belts for sale that utilized the same type buckle as the brocade belt and had assumed the Heer and possibly Luftwaffe may have, at one time, done the same. I suppose that both branches used the open claw buckle though. Were all the Heer open claw belts then black and the LW brown? I think I have seen brown open claws advertised as Heer as well.
Richard V

I believe the Luft open claw buckles are governed by the larger buckle than the army or the width of the belt (I can't remember) maybe both. Pre war Army officer belts were manufactured in brown with most being dyed black in the field. Later Army belts were manufactured in black.

To my knowledge the Army did not manufacture a brocade buckle with a leather belt,if some were worn this way I think they would have been custom made for the individual officer privatly.


Glenn

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Richard, the Heer did not wear a "brocade style" circular buckle on a leather belt in NW Europe/ Russia. But the DAK Officers did wear the tropical pattern webbing belt which did feature this style of circular buckle.

Glenn is correct about the Luftwaffe Officers brown leather belt & buckle being slightly wider than the Heer counterpart.

Cheers, Ade.

[Glenn McInnes]

Here is what Ade is referring to.


Glenn

[Adrian Stevenson]

Thai is the one Glenn I have often fancied buying one of these.


Cheers, Ade.

[Glenn McInnes]

Hi Ade,

I would like to have one too, but I can't justify the $600/$700 price tag being asked for most of these.


Glenn