Werkschutz Buckle Reitz Variant
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 81.GOR.02.02.03.001.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
In silvered stamped zinc, unmarked reverse, measuring 49 mm x 66 mm, lightly worn, extremely fine and rare. The E. Reitz uniformwerke was one of the biggest uniform factories outside Germany. It was located in Merksem, a suburb of Antwerp, Belgium, in a former tobacco factory. The Germans installed a huge production unit for military uniforms used by the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe , Waffen-SS and Kriegsmarine.
The DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront = German Labour Front) was the result of a forced association of all German trade unions, established on May 10, 1933. Its purpose was the coordination and control of all aspects of German labour to serve the interests of the NSDAP. The DAF leader was Reichsleiter Robert Ley.
The Werkscharen (Factory Brigades) of the DAF were the “soldiers” of the organisation, formed in 1934. They were trained and organised as paramilitary, uniformed units, yet remained unarmed. Beginning in April 1937, active Werkschar units (Stoßtrupps) would wear silver-coloured insignia, while administrators wore gold-coloured insignia. Even though Werkscharen were not affiliated with the Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB, National Air Raid Protection League), during the war they often functioned as factory air raid protection auxiliaries.
Some companies, especially major corporations, used additional security personnel, which were dubbed Werkschutz (Factory Protection), and later Werksicherheitsdienst (Factory Security Service).
Werkschutz members generally wore a standard double open-claw buckle, however, they were allowed to wear rectangular “box” belt buckles depicting a company logo instead. As such, Werkschutz buckles differed between companies.
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