1945 Buckles

[PaulW]

Hi,
just a point of interest. I'm wondering if anyone knows what the situation with (Heer primarily) buckle production was in 1945? Although many parts of the Reich were over-run some areas were not occupied before the surrender. I'm wondering if anyone has any information/ anecdotes about this period, i.e were they being produced in some factories until 8th May 1945, or did production cease before that due to the breakdown in the supply situation (raw materials not getting to the factories, buckles etc not leaving the factories).

Also - if anyone knows! Are there any 1945 dated buckles, or were dates/ stamps removed by 1944/45? Were ALL Heer buckles by then painted grey/ grey-blue or were some still being painted field-grey/ green right up to the end?

[klr]

On the War relics forom there is a thread with a 45 marked Aurich buckle. This company was located in Dresden. I think Dresden was almost untouched until 90% of the city was destroyed on Feb 13-15 1945. So there are 45 marked buckles but they are very rare. Kirby

[PaulW]

Link

Thanks for that pointer Kirby. Here is the link to the War Relics thread (if you're registered there):-

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/belt-b...buckle-179813/

The feeling of members there seems to be that 45 dated buckles did exist in a minority but are 'as rare as hen's teeth' - perhaps Aurich was the only manufacturer - and perhaps they didn't make any at all after Dresden was bombed?

Would still love to hear from anyone that might have a date reference for when grey/ grey-blue (black?) Heer buckles started to appear - and whether it is felt that green buckles may have been produced to the very end by some manufacturers.

I also ask as I have an unmarked field-grey/ green Overhof (discussed recently) and am curious if there is any way of putting a date window on it).