Hello, guys and gals. I bought a set of WWI Sam Browne belts and this trouser belt came with them. No buckle. Any comments or information is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hello, guys and gals. I bought a set of WWI Sam Browne belts and this trouser belt came with them. No buckle. Any comments or information is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
It appears to be a standard M1895 equipment belt, not a "trouser belt". This was worn over the tunic and carried the ammunition pouches, bayonet frog, bread bag with canteen attached and entrenching tool.
Congratulations, it is in surprisingly good condition.
Here is a link to "Kaiser's Bunker, a great site on Imperial German uniforms and equipment that shows the M1895 belt:
Preuen Model 1895 Belt and Buckle
Of course it shows the belt with buckle attached. This style equipment belt was in use through 1945.
Thanks for the link. Interesting that its not blackened despite being dated 1918.
Equipment was issued to the soldier in the natural state and he was to blacken it. Yours saw only light use so it may not have been blackened, by that late in the War, time was short and cost of dyes, which could by modern standards be rather fugitive, may have been prohibitive. Shortages of many things were common.
It's marked to the clothing office (Bekleidungs-Amt) of the XVIII army corps (Kurhessian). The vendor of this belt to the government was Otto M. Hartmann of Offenbach am Main.
CCMJR
Excellent! I couldn't make it out. Well done.
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