Original German WWII Early SS EM/NCO Nickel Belt Buckle Marked SS 63 RZM with Named Black Leather Belt - Schutzstaffel

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition German WWII Early Pattern (1934-1936) Schutzstaffel (SS) EM/NCO's Nickel Silver Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß), complete with a lovely named black leather belt! This is the correct set for an SS Allegemeine EM/NCO!

The buckle is embossed with a high relief, embossed, central motif pattern consisting of an SS style national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreath, encompassing a static swas (hook cross). The swas and wreath are in turn encompassed by a circular, simulated, twisted rope border with the Gothic script motto, Meine Ehre heißt Treue!, (My Honor is Loyalty!). There is just a bit of oxidation on the exterior of the buckle, with very little wear or deterioration of the exterior. The plated brass claw has lost a good amount of the plating, and is held in place by a steel rivet.

The back of the buckle is marked with the RZM codes which began use starting in 1934:

((ᛋᛋ))  (63)  ((RZM)

This is a very interesting marking, as it indicates manufacture by maker Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid, however these were actually made by M. Winter, who previously marked these with their code 57. Winter had for some reason lost their RZM contract, and so were forced to sell their inventory, with Steinhauer & Lück being the buyer. The buckles then had the markings professionally ground down and were remarked before being supplied to the SS. The Nickel Alloy "German Silver" construction of the body indicates original production before 1936, when these buckles began to be made of aluminum alloy. By 1940 the material was changed to steel.

The black leather belt itself measures about 41" when fully extended, and is marked with a size of 105, for 105cm (41.3in.), so it has not shrunken much. It retains the original leather adjustment tab with double rows of 7 holes for length adjustment, with an extra pair of holes added right next to where the tab attaches to the belt. It shows light to moderate wear, with some wear to the black finish on the exterior. The interior does not have any maker markings, but it is named to Gefr. Somfleth on the interior, a known German surname.

A very early all nickel alloy SS Belt Buckle complete with black leather belt, ready to add to your collection!

History of the SS

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 under the auspices of the SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH (Shock Troops). It was then redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925, with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9th 1925.

As a subordinate unit to the SA, early SS personnel wore the standard SA style box belt buckle. It is believed that Adolf AH personally designed a new pattern box belt buckle specifically for wear by SS EM/NCO personnel with the manufacturing patent being originally granted to the Overhoff & Cie. firm in Lüdenscheid. This new style buckle was adopted for wear by EM/NCO personnel in late 1931 or early 1932. Generally the early buckles were produced in solid nickel/silver until sometime in 1936 when aluminum alloys replaced the nickel/silver versions. In 1940 the EM/NCO's belt buckles began to be manufactured in steel replacing the aluminum alloy buckles. The steel buckles were zinc coated than painted grey.