Controversial buckles

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 08:53 AM

by Wewelsburg

Is it known if the NSBO buckle with the factory design is from a real factory or just from someones fantasy?

When this buckle was cobbled together is really any persons guess. N.S.B.O. buckles were of course "non regulated" and if period (emphasis on if), then perhaps quite simply, a "do-it-yourself" project. The effect is striking to my eye, however I think that the particular Tagungsabzeichen has been chosen for effect rather than having any significance to the event. There are quite a few fantasy buckles in circulation now which employ a Tagungsabzeichen as the obverse emblem and I will post some images when time permits.

Regards and best wishes,

David

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-13-2016 08:53 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 09:12 AM

by kirby

Gau Essen has always been controversial. Who was it intended for? Is it SS related?

Controversial it may be, however still a super looking buckle! The SS connection is in my opinion without any foundation and I suppose that the spurious association is perfectly natural and expected due to features integral to the design. Not forgetting also that pinning an SS association to something immediately increases the perceived desirability and price.

On more than one occasion it has been suggested (I have no research or proof before any forum member starts foaming at the mouth) that the buckle was intended for wear by the short lived Hilfspolizei within Gau Essen. The latter was an old Gau and the Hilfspolizei who were made up of SA, SS and I think Stahlhelmbund members, were only active within a short period at the start of 1933.

The buckle will however and to most, be conveniently and forever more be labelled as SS Gau Essen.

Regards and best wishes,

David

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 09:55 AM

by kirby

Gold HJ buckles. Are they HJ Marine related? I understand there is no regulation for a gold HJ.

As controversial as controversial can be!

Whilst I have and over more years than I can remember seen and personally handled some very convincing looking "gold" HJ buckles, my opinion is still that they are all and without exception post 1945 enhancements to a base buckle. Originally designated by some as Marine related and where the designation switched occasionally to "special", "unknown" or whatever. This is when we view the buckle within the genre of HJ and without stating the blindingly obvious, belonging to a massive N.S.D.A.P. organisation. Not one shred of evidence so far and to my knowledge by period documentation, regulations, manufacturers catalogues, photographs or the like to even faintly suggest the existence of this buckle.

Always happy to be proven wrong and I will still keep an open mind about the gold HJ. For the moment however, my opinion is that it is a fantasy finish.

Regards and best wishes,

David

**Wilhelm Saris** · 02-13-2016, 10:08 AM

by David North

The buckle will however and to most, be conveniently and forever more be labelled as SS Gau Essen. Regards and best wishes, David

This Gau Essen buckle surely will not have to do wih SS at all.
The expression Gau was not used within the SS and surely not during the period this buckle was made.
Lack of knowledge about TR systems and regulations may have caused the buckle named as such, maybe
due to its form for the eagle used. But it started anyway in the later 1950's/earliest 1960's!

I think it would be wise to find out first in what organization something like "Essen" existed (anyway not
within the RAD; maybe for the political organization as there a Gau Essen existed). If it would be the last
then they would have run into problems with the existing Gau with larger names (as for example "Gau
Halle-Merseburg"). I think this buckle just was an experiment and never actually agreed and granted,
rejected due to the name(s)!

Further I agree completely with David when he says:
"Not one shred of evidence so far and to my knowledge by period documentation, regulations, manufacturers
catalogues, photographs or the like to even faintly suggest the existence of this buckle". It is about the
"golden" rectangular HJ-buckle. It is my opinion this buckle is fantasy in some ways and produced by someone
who did not know about what and how within the HJ.
Come with stated evidence and there will be a certain % of believe!

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 10:08 AM

by Gwar

That is probably the best example of a "Unknown" yet... IMO

You think so Gwar? Then how about this?

Manufactured by Assmann without a swastika. Definitely not denazified.

Regards and best wishes,

David

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 10:10 AM

2

**Wilhelm Saris** · 02-13-2016, 10:16 AM

You can see such buckle without a swastika, but for leaders and made by Assmann,
in my article "Reichsarbeitsdienst Belts and Brocade Belts" the "Military Advisor"-
magazin vol.16, number 1 winter 2004/2005. Page 9 with a front and reverse photograph.

I saw this buckle actually for the first time in the later 1970's an was able to get a photograph
in the mid-1980's. Maybe it was planned to introduce a buckle like this, but finally rejected as
a new design with swastika was introduced.

**kirby** · 02-13-2016, 05:11 PM

Here is another buckle that is in my buddy Gary's collection. This is some sort of German teachers organization and could have been period or post war. Whenever, it was well done. Thanks for the input on the Gau Essen and the Gold HJ.

**David North** · 02-13-2016, 05:42 PM

by kirby

Here is another buckle that is in my buddy Gary's collection. This is some sort of German teachers organization and could have been period or post war

I must admit Kirby that I am not madly keen on any buckle that has an events badge "bolted on" as the emblem, especially when the Tagungsabzeichen is dated. There may have been a period personal vanity or memento motive, although it just does not make sense to me at least. There are now quite a few of these fantasy buckles in circulation and in collections I am sorry to say.

Regards and best wishes,

David