History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

The Afrikakorps Luftwaffe NCO/EM's belt buckles tended to be produced from stamped steel with painted finishes. They feature surface pebbling on the interior of the laurel wreath. The buckle show a left-facing eagle, mid-flight, with a “flared” style tail and an mobile swastika clutched in its claws. The entire eagle is surrounded by a closed laurel wreath.

The Afrikakorps Luftwaffe buckles were the same as the regular Luftwaffe buckles, except that they were painted in a tan, khaki, or olive shade. They could be worn with the tropical webbed belt, but were also worn with the standard brown leather belt. In fact, many Afrikakorps Luftwaffe members, due to availability or preference, opted for wearing the regular blue-grey Luftwaffe belt buckle instead.

The manufacturer marks are generally located on the reverse of the buckle, but they may also be stamped into the leather tab. The leather tab may also feature the stamp “L.B.A.” for the Luftwaffe Clothing Department (Luftwaffe-Bekleidungs-Amt).