luftwaffe belt and buckle wearage

[adreas schmidt]

im trying to find out when the luftwaffe changed to the steel buckles from the aluminium varients, and if they were always painted or not, with the fallschirmjager for example . but also was there only one std width of enlisted mans belt? what about thickness? many thanks andreas

[Gene]

The aluminum buckles were made up to and including 1939, and from 1940 on they were steel. I have seen many unpainted steel buckles that appear to have been issued that way; I have one in my collection and there are no remnants of paint anywhere, however miniscule. As for the belts, I've never noticed a difference in thickness or width. The only difference I have seen is that LBA marked belts have a tapered inner belt, unlike Heer examples.

[adreas schmidt]

lw belts and buckles

thanks gene thats a great help, andreas