Does anyone have any ideas as to what this buckle is? I originally thought it was a Latvian SS buckkle w/what is called the "double Swastika" but I have some doubts. Whatever it is it's a super looking buckle.
Bill
Bill
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Photo 2 -
I believe it is indeed Latvian, but that it has nothing to do with the SS.
JohnComment
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John,
Thanks for the response. If you look in Littlejohn's Vol 4 of "Foreign Legions of the TR you will see a similar collar tab for the 15th Latvian Waffen SS Div. That's why I believed it be SS.
BillComment
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Hi Bill:
The Latvians used the swastika independently of the Germans during and before the war on some of their own insignia. I do not know who used it first with regard to those two nations, but you will see pre-war Latvian Flight Badges (I believe actually a pilot's badge) with the swastika design.
I wonder if the collar tab design did not come from the Latvian use of the swastika...it is almost as if they copied the design on the buckle for the tab. The design is similar but different in that the arms go inward vs outward on the tab vs the buckle.
Kindest Regards,
JohnComment
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