WW2 US Trench Art belt Value

**viglenn89** · 09-02-2012, 08:11 PM

Hello,
I came across this old belt that a man has for sale. He said his uncle created it while in the military. I was curious if anyone knew anything about the buttons and badges on it to confirm the date.

Thanks,
John

**gel65** · 09-02-2012, 09:15 PM

This is commonly called a hate belt. Most of the buttons appear to be ww1 german hope that this helps

**SteveR** · 09-02-2012, 09:37 PM

Ditto.

**viglenn89** · 09-02-2012, 10:32 PM

Thanks for th info guys. But what exactly is a hate belt?

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**Eddie** · 09-02-2012, 10:41 PM

My WWI "hate" / "grave digger" belt

**Jerry B** · 09-02-2012, 11:13 PM

by viglenn89

Thanks for th info guys. But what exactly is a hate belt?

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Not sure why they are called hate belts as many were done by allied troops and consisted of badges and buttons from their friends units though an explanation from the web is posted below.

"German soldiers' leather belts, and other belts from participating armies, that were festooned with buttons from soldiers uniforms are called Hate Belts / Souvenir Belts / Grave Digger Belts. These made for excellent keepsakes. First for the "Hate Belt" explanation: the idea was that if a German soldier had killed or captured an Allied soldier, then he would have the button from the newly deceased or captured soldier attached to his belt as a kind of notch of conquest on his belt. This, no doubt, is the most intriguing explanation for those decorative belts. The "Souvenir Belt" explanation: this description is apt for many of the belts that are in circulation today. The souvenir belt would involve a German infantryman's belt being decorated with buttons and tabs from troops BOTH Allied and CENTRAL Powers and sold as a remembrance of The War. The "Grave Digger Belt" example is self explanatory, to a degree. Troops burying dead soldiers would sometimes remove buttons from those they buried as a remembrance. It is impossible to determine the origin of most belts, but some of these highly collectible belts provide some hints as to their origin."