Original German WWII Rare Tropical Afrikakorps DAK Web Belt with Steel Buckle - Unissued

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare totally genuine unissued condition WWII Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) tropical waist belt with correct EM/NCO's Steel Painted Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). The buckle is die-stamped steel (magnetic), with a lovely blue gray finish, possibly indicating coastal artillery issue. The front of the buckle is embossed with Wehrmacht eagle and motto GOTT MIT UNS (God With Us). It shows only light wear to the paint on the front, however the outer sides of the buckle are missing a lot of the paint, and it looks like it was this way from the factory. We were not able to locate any maker marking on the buckle, but this is not uncommon.

The unissued condition DAK tan colored web belt has a natural leather tab with the usual double row of seven holes for length adjustment, which is just a bit stiff due to age. There is tan stitching around both ends of the webbing used to make the belt to keep it from fraying. The belt measures about 34 inches in overall length, and there is a stamped size marking, but we are not able to read it.

Overall a great unissued 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 (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, 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.