Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine excellent unissued condition WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt with correct EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). Unissued originals such as this example are very hard to come by Berg and Nolte.
The buckle is die-stamped steel (magnetic), with an olive drab finish. The front of the buckle is embossed with Wehrmacht eagle and motto GOTT MIT UNS (God With Us). Virtually all of the original paint remains on both sides of the buckle, with just a few scratches from service. The inside of the buckle is marked with B&N - 43, indicating manufacture by the firm of Berg und Nolte of Lüdenscheid and was made in 1943.
The buckle does not have a leather tab with stamping information, instead the excess of belt was looped back through the catch and there is ink stamping lightly visible. Unfortunately all we can make out is the year 1943.
The DAK tan colored web belt has a brown leather tab with the usual seven double vertically holes for length adjustment. The green end stitching is fully intact, and the belt measures 29 1/2 inches in overall length. The webbing is in almost unissued condition, with no staining, tears, etc.
Overall a fantastic example of a very rare belt and buckle from the Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK!
History of the German Africa Corps
The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (Deutsches Afrikakorps or DAK) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
The dry climate of Africa proved to be an issue with much of the standard leather field gear that the German Army usually used. It would dry out and crack quickly, and become unusable. To deal with this, the standard field gear such as belts, Y-straps, A-frames, bayonet frogs, and other items, were issued in special tropical web versions.
