Nice simple pickup last weekend at the local antique fair. This is a souvenir belt put together from a Prussian infantry belt and the tunic buttons from a wide range of Allied and German units. This example has a predominance of Canadian buttons so I am guessing that it was Canadian in origin. The rest are French, Australian, New Zealand, German and one single U.S. General Service button. You see these in all sorts of configurations, some on Allied belts, some with cap badges and other oddments. The legend is that these were put together from souvenirs taken from dead bodies but that sounds overly complex to me and likely nonsense. More likely most of the buttons were swapped at rear area camps between bored soldiers making up a souvenir. The U.S. button suggests a late war job, 1917-19. The Empire buttons make sense as often these units found themselves together in the line. The Canadian Regiments are from different divisions so that’s why I think this is a rear area put together. Still, a great belt, in fine condition and worth it just for the buttons and belt IMHO.
Archive for the Uniforms Category
WW1 Canadian Hate Belt
Posted in Belts & Belt Buckles, Insignia with tags Australia, Canada, France, Germany (Imperial), Hate Belts, New Zealand, Souvenirs, United Kingdom, United States, Western Front, WW1 on August 5, 2017 by The DudeAluminium Hitler Youth Buckle
Posted in Belts & Belt Buckles with tags Germany (Third Reich), Hitler Youth, WW2 on March 13, 2017 by The DudeKreigsmarine EM cockade
Posted in Headwear with tags Cap Badges, Germany (Third Reich), Kriegsmarine, WW2 on January 15, 2017 by The DudeSimple little add here. This is a metal, bakelite and cloth roundel or cockade in the national colours used on enlisted men’s soft caps in all three services. In this case the KM Donald Duck cap below was missing one when I got it, although it had the slots where one would have fitted. An easy cheap fix, unlike most of the rabbit holes I go down.
Kreigsmarine EM/NCO Donald Duck Cap
Posted in Headwear with tags Germany (Third Reich), Kriegsmarine, WW2 on January 7, 2017 by The DudeI have field caps for the Luftwaffe and Heer and have been looking for a KM one for a while. This one came relatively cheap from a trip to Belleville although it is missing its cockade on the front. I will look for one of these in the meantime but I am happy with the look of this. Note, the post-war hats are almost identical except that the inside liner is white in colour.
Kriegsmarine Officer’s Belt & Buckle
Posted in Belts & Belt Buckles with tags Buckles, Germany (Third Reich), Kriegsmarine, WW2 on December 21, 2016 by The DudeEver since that KM Dagger walked into my life a few months ago I have been looking for a good Officer belt and buckle to hang it off. The dagger came with the narrow undress belt but I wanted the broader undress belt. Here it is, lovely.
Hitler Youth Golden Honour Badge
Posted in Insignia, Medallions & Badges with tags Germany (Third Reich), Hitler Youth, WW2 on December 19, 2016 by The DudeA nicely executed badge, this is the Gold Honour Badge for HJ members. This example is marked to manufacturer M1/78 (Paulmann & Crone, Lüdenscheid). It also has the RZM mark, Ges-Gesch (protected design) and the owners issue number. The badge was awarded to members of the HJ or BDM who joined prior to Potsdam Day (October 2, 1932) and had five years continuous service.
DLV Officer’s Cap Badge
Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles, Insignia with tags DLV, Germany (Third Reich), WW2 on December 19, 2016 by The DudeThis badge is an early pre-RZM example of the Officers Cap Badge for the Deutscher Luftsportverband. The DLV was created in 1933 in order to establish the training foundation for the later revealed Luftwaffe. I have an officers dagger for this organization here.