-
The 1st Buckles of the 3rd Reich
The earliest known NAZI buckles, these buckles were produced in the early to mid-1920’s.
In 1920, the NAZI Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) was created from the German Worker’s Party (DAP) and adopted the swastika or “Hakenkreuz” as it’s symbol. By 1921 the term Sturmabteilung (SA) was being used by the NAZI party.
By 1923, Aldolf Hitler realized that a small unit of loyal men would be beneficial; the Stoßtrupp-Hitler or Stosstrupp-Hitler (“Shock Troop-Hitler”). It was designated the Stabswache and was still under SA control. They wore the Totenkopf as the unit’s insignia.
In May 1923, the unit was renamed Stoßtrupp and, along with the SA and other NAZI paramilitary units, took part in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. In the aftermath, Hitler was imprisoned and his party and all associated formations, including the Stoßtrupp, were disbanded. Aldolf Hitler, while sentenced to five years in prison, was pardoned and release from jail in December 1924.
Notable members of the Stoßtrupp included Rudolf Hess, Julius Schreck, Joseph Berchtold, Emil Maurice, Erhard Heiden, Ulrich Graf, and Bruno Gesche. Up to this point, it appears members of the party wore a variety of belts with buckles locally produced and from prior service.
In February 1925 Hitler was successful in convincing the authorities to lift the ban on the NSDAP and the party was formally re-founded with Hitler as it’s undisputed leader. Hitler then continued building the NSDAP and became more politically active while building his support base and membership.
The Stosstrupp was later, 1925, transformed into the Hitler mobile shock troop which was part of the Munich SA. The Stosstrupp was expanded to a national level and renamed successively the Sturmstaffel (storm squadron), then the Schutzkommando (protection command), and finally the Schutzstaffel (SS).
The SA was started to be uniformed after the re-institution of the NSDAP on February 27, 1925 but in many parts of Germany the NSDAP was still a forbidden organization.
In the SA-Befehl (command) from November 14, 1926 a belt was mentioned to be worn, when possible along with the leather shoulder-belt. Nothing was said about what type of buckle was to be worn. But, In the book “Dokumente der Zeitgeschichte” a photograph showed what was the official SA-uniform by orders from November 14, 1926. The person wearing the uniform wears a buckle with the large swastika in horizontal form over the rectangular. (Saris)
In the buckle-book “Deutsche Koppelschlösser, 1800-1945” from Jürgen Bandau this buckle was mentioned to be from about the above mentioned period. Bandau states the buckle as a manufactured item from the Wilhelm Deumer-concern. (Saris)
While worn by early party members including members of Hitler’s security force, the Stabswache or Stosstrupp, they are the first Nazi party buckles, not SS buckles.
The earliest photos I have of these buckles in wear so far is 1925 and worn up to 1935. These would include some of the core people who worked with Hitler in the formation and rise of the NAZI party. These buckles appear to have been worn by SA, SS and possibly members of the HJ or NS. One photo indicates it was worn as late as 1935 by an NSDAP Gauleiter.
The top buckle was produced by Pragewerk in Lang-Gons, a municipality in the district of Gießen, Hesse, Germany. The bottom one is not marked. Another known manufacturer of the early swastika buckle is Deumer.
1925 - Early SS (Bas J.)
1925 – Early SS with Capt. Ernst Röhm? (Bas J.)
1925 - Frankfurt SA
1925 SS Flag bearer, buckle is said to be manufactured by Deumer and marked D&S. – (Angolia)
1925 Aldolf Hitler with early Stabswache members Julius Schaub, Julius Schreck, (removed - ??), Aldolf Hitler, Hans Georg Maurer, Edmund Schneider. The Schutzstaffel (SS) is officially founded to serve for Hitler's personal protection. Hitler's chauffeur, Julius Schreck is the commander of the first unit.
1926 Frankfurter SA Reichsparteitag
1926 at Albert Leo Schlageter commemoration (Bas J.)
1926 at Albert Leo Schlageter commemoration (Bas J.)
1926 Hitler at Starnberg with Stosstrupp guards
1926 Hitler at Starnberg with Stosstrupp guards
1927 SS and SA Strum 20 at Nurnberg (Blackwatch1)
1927 SS and SA Strum 20 at Nurnberg (Blackwatch1)
1927 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg (Bas J.)
1927 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg (Bas J.)
1927 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg (Bas J.)
1929 – 1931(Blackwatch1)
1931 Sept SA (Finngaill)
1931 (Finngaill)
1932 SA man (Blackwatch1)
1932 SA man (Blackwatch1)
1932 HJ NS Musicians (Bas J.)
1932 Gregor Strasser signed guest book page
1932 Gregor Strasser signed guest book page
1932 Possibly early SS prototype uniforms (Bas J.)
1932 Possibly early SS prototype uniforms (Bas J.)
1932 Possibly early SS prototype uniforms (Bas J.)
1932 Possibly early SS prototype uniforms (Bas J.)
1935 September at Schalkenmehrener Maar man who wears the buckle is Gau AmtsleiterHauptarntsleiter.
-
12-18-2022 03:34 AM
# ADS
Circuit advertisement
-
Great stuff on this thread. I love those early crude buckles. Those pictures really tell the story. Thanks for posting
-
Very informative thread and documentation. Thank you for posting.
John
-
These are really neat. I've seen them in a few pictures like the ones you posted, but never very clearly. I really like the handmade look of these. Thanks for sharing.
-
Well Documented ...Nice Work 
It is not the size of a Collection in History that matters......Its the size of your Passion for it!!
- Larry C
One never knows what tree roots push to the surface of what laid buried before the tree was planted - Larry C
“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” - Winston Churchill
-
I had some great help from Blackwatch1 and Bas J.
-
Brilliant research, the photos also illustrate the small circumference of the early armbands, worn quite 'tight',
Regards
Paul
-
-
by
TABSTABS1964
Totally agree. Great research and photos
Thanks
Regards
Santi
Douglas, that's a real compliment coming form Santi the master of research and photo's
-
Great informative thread backed up with some fantastic photographic examples, prop one of the best threads we have on these buckles. These are now well faked so be careful if ever buying one, early cottage industry made buckles so no quality control on these bad boys. Many thanks for your contribution
Ben
.
Bookmarks