History

The German Wehrmacht was composed of three main branches, the Heer, the Kriegsmarine, and the Luftwaffe. The Heer and Kriegsmarine uniforms were based upon the designs utilized by their predecessor organizations, the Deutsches Heer and the Kaiserliche Marine. Conversely, the Luftwaffe uniforms were based upon the uniforms worn in the sports and para-military organizations that were the forerunners of the Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe uniforms were specifically designed to deviate from the designs of the other Wehrmacht service branches. It was also necessary that the uniforms differentiate between military and civilian pilots.

There were two main organizational precursors of the Luftwaffe, the German Air Sports Association (DLV or Deutscher Luftsportverband), and the National Air Raid Protection League (RLB or Reichs Luftschutzbund).

The DLV and the RLB were created in 1933. These civilian organizations were used to secretly train members for future roles in the Luftwaffe. The DLV became obsolete after Hitler’s official introduction of the Luftwaffe in 1935, and it was disbanded and replaced by the National Socialist Flyers Corps (NSFK or Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps) in 1937.

On May 27, 1935, an order was released that delineated the official forms of the Luftwaffe uniforms. This edict removed DLV/RLB belts from circulation and wear by Luftwaffe personnel, and introduced official Luftwaffe belt buckle and strap regulations.

Even though the new Luftwaffe belts were introduced in the same year as the DLV Dress Brocade Belts, the DLV versions were worn by DLV/RLB Officers until the end of the wearing out period in April 1936.

The Luftwaffe Brocade Belt was worn by Generals, Officers, and Officials with the equivalent rank of General or Officer. It was permitted for wear on the formal and parade dress, but could also be worn when specifically ordered. This belt was discontinued for wear on February 12, 1940.

The belt buckle is oval shaped and features the same general obverse design as the Luftwaffe NCO/EM Ranks Belt Buckle, with an encircling laurel wreath and a Luftwaffe pattern, left facing, national emblem eagle carrying a slanted swastika. For General ranks, the buckle base is gold-coloured with a silver-coloured eagle, while for Officer ranks, the buckle base is silver-coloured with a gold-coloured eagle.

Early buckles may be produced with German silver, but the majority of buckles were made with pressed aluminum or silvered brass. The national emblem eagle was attached to the buckle base with 1 to 3 rivets and was generally made from the same material as the buckle. The eagle was made in two distinct patterns: initially, the eagles have a “droop” tail from 1935-1937/38, while in 1938-1940 the eagles' design changed to feature a “flared” tail.

The reverse of the buckle features a buckle catch and an attachment tab (belt keeper) for the brocade belt strap. It may also have a stamped manufacturer mark.

Known manufacturers include, but are not limited to, Berg & Nolte, F.W. Assmann & Söhne, Overhoff & Cie, and Wilh. Deumer. The reverse of the buckle may also be marked “D.R.G.M.” for Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster, meaning the buckle was a design registered by the German Reich.