Late war SS officer's belt set with "ELJ" marked buckle

[richthofen_117]

Hi all,

This SS officer's belt set is my latest acquisition bought from a reputable seller, any opinions?

Happy New Year to all!

Best, Yun

[richthofen_117]

More pics:

[ivanjoaquin]

The Juttner buckle is nice and the belt looks period made but I don't know if it is a SS belt

[KC1]

Agreed! Personal belt with SS buckle

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

By 1943 only one leather maker was marking his SS belts production: maker 1325.

[SScollector]

It is rare to find this particular buckle in such good condition. That painted finish is nicer than what is seen on most surviving examples. Congrats!

Chris

[richthofen_117]

It is rare to find this particular buckle in such good condition. That painted finish is nicer than what is seen on most surviving examples. Congrats!

Chris

Thanks Chris for your positive comment!

Best, Yun

[richthofen_117]

By 1943 only one leather maker was marking his SS belts production: maker 1325.

Hi JP,

Thank you for your knowledgeable answer, so you mean there's no issues with my belt?

Best, Yun

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

Hi JP,

Thank you for your knowledgeable answer, so you mean there's no issues with my belt?

Best, Yun

It is well known that any belt made for the SS after 1943 was not SS marked. Even during the year of 1943, only one maker was marking his leather belts production with his code: 1325/43. It follows the same process for SS buckles, at the exception of the very rare 36/44 which were probably made only for the Allgemeine SS but not the Waffen SS.

Then the Waffen SS was not able to receive almost anything from former RZM suppliers or just about any supplier. Their only way to get what they needed was to get it from wherever possible, whenever possible. Most of surviving sets (both EM and officers like the one you are showing) having seen at least some action during the three last year of war are a match of various buckles and leathers. They are ranging from very early SS buckles (before 1934) with very late war leather belts (no leather tongue/holes directly in belt) to any SS buckle with any type of leather belt coming from whatever supply source available by requisition.

Only sets found/liberated in houses or on non fighting units (camp guards, home town security, Kommandantur personal...) will have the chance to be with matching belts and buckle since a belt had, if I recall correctly, a usable service set to 4 years and buckle to 7. So since his belt set would not have been abused or damaged he would have kept it from 1940 to 1945 minimum.

[richthofen_117]

It is well known that any belt made for the SS after 1943 was not SS marked. Even during the year of 1943, only one maker was marking his leather belts production with his code: 1325/43. It follows the same process for SS buckles, at the exception of the very rare 36/44 which were probably made only for the Allgemeine SS but not the Waffen SS.

Then the Waffen SS was not able to receive almost anything from former RZM suppliers or just about any supplier. Their only way to get what they needed was to get it from wherever possible, whenever possible. Most of surviving sets (both EM and officers like the one you are showing) having seen at least some action during the three last year of war are a match of various buckles and leathers. They are ranging from very early SS buckles (before 1934) with very late war leather belts (no leather tongue/holes directly in belt) to any SS buckle with any type of leather belt coming from whatever supply source available by requisition.

Only sets found/liberated in houses or on non fighting units (camp guards, home town security, Kommandantur personal...) will have the chance to be with matching belts and buckle since a belt had, if I recall correctly, a usable service set to 4 years and buckle to 7. So since his belt set would not have been abused or damaged he would have kept it from 1940 to 1945 minimum.

Thanks so much for your answer, much appreciated!

Best regards,
Yun

[klr]

Thanks JP. Some very good information. Yun can you make out the letters above the 1944. They look like the city codes you find on Postschutz belts and tabs. I don’t think this is Postschutz just the marking looks similar .


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[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

Thanks JP. Some very good information. Yun can you make out the letters above the 1944. They look like the city codes you find on Postschutz belts and tabs. I don’t think this is Postschutz just the marking looks similar .


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I have no idea since my knowledge with markings on leather belts is only related to SS markings. But you can be right since postshutz leathers should be easily accessible to the SS since they were already under their supervision like the Police.

[richthofen_117]

Thanks JP. Some very good information. Yun can you make out the letters above the 1944. They look like the city codes you find on Postschutz belts and tabs. I don’t think this is Postschutz just the marking looks similar .


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I looked closely at the letters, they seem to be "bla" with a downward pointing arrow added: "bla ↓", is that city codes?

Best, Yun

[klr]

Postschutz codes are four letters. Not sure what a arrow would be for.


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[KC1]

I believe this is the mark for the leather maker. Similar to chin straps for helmets.