Waffen-SS belt buckles by Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
From even before world war one the Germans and many other european armies had distinctive belt buckles that locked the belt in place and at the other hand distinguished the individual wearers service branch. The German military belt buckles or Koppelschloss from world war two can be sorted in a few categories being Heer (Army), Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. Next to these categories one could sort the difference between different colours, designs, makers, dates, materials, uses and absence or presence of leather tab. The first military buckles introduced in the Reichswehr Era where of a stamped Alpacca construction with a brass catch. This type of material and manufacture was also used in the first models of Waffen-SS belt buckles. The first Heer, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe belt buckles with swastika where introduced in 1936 and manufactured in moulded Aluminium.
In 1940 the aluminium belt buckles ceased production and the painted steel belt buckles where introduced for all service branches. Until 1942 they featured a leather tab on which the manufacturers name, town and date of manufacture. The Waffen-SS belt buckles never had such tabs! In 1943 the Heer Einheitkoppelschloss in a dark blue colour known as Graublau was introduced. I can not find any reference to it as of now, but in my opinion this might well be a buckle meant for all branches of the Wehrmacht and not just the Heer and Kriegsmarine.
Next to the German armed forces most paramilitary organizations had their own belt buckle too. I will mostly focus on the German military issue belt buckles but I will photograph private purchase parade buckles when I have the chance.
F. W. Assmann & Söhne was founded in 1826 by Friedrich Wilhelm Assmann.
After his death, his son, Eugen Assmann, continued to lead the company until his death, in 1929.
After that, the next follower of the family, Rudolf Assmann, died in 1940. F. W. Assmann & Söhne was one of the major manufacturers for buttons and buckles during the war.
Type – RZM 155/39 ᛋᛋ
Markings: RZM 155/39 ᛋᛋ
Maker: Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
Year: 1939
Material: Aluminum
Paint: Silver
Notes: This near mint buckle is in near unissued condition, the silver paint that usually is missing still retains for 90%.
Type – RZM 155/40 ᛋᛋ
Branch: Waffen-SS
Motto: Meine Ehre heißt Treue
Markings: RZM 155/40 ᛋᛋ
Maker: Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
Year: 1940
Material: Aluminum
Paint: Silver
Notes: This is the first model Assmann buckle from 1940, and the last to be produced in Aluminum.
Type – RZM 155/40 ᛋᛋ
Markings: RZM 155/40 ᛋᛋ
Maker: Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
Year: 1940
Material: Stamped steel, zinc coated and painted silver
Paint: Silver
Notes: This is the first steel model from 1940 with the marking near the catch. Somewhere in 1940 the place of marking was changed to underneath the prong bar.I have photographed two different styles. One in a light grey/silver paint and one in the textbook silver paint with the original factory tag.
Type – RZM 155/43 ᛋᛋ
Markings: RZM 155/43 ᛋᛋ
Maker: Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
Year: 1943
Material: Stamped steel, zinc coated and painted grey
Paint: Grey
