Description
This is an original WWII German Hitler Youth belt buckle and leather belt. The buckle is made of die-struck aluminum, finished in silver-gray, and displays the Hitler Youth diamond with swastika centered inside a circular oak leaf wreath with the motto “Blut und Ehre!” (Blood and Honor!).
The reverse of the buckle is clearly marked with:
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A&S – Maker’s mark for Assmann & Söhne, one of the most famous buckle and insignia manufacturers located in Lüdenscheid, Germany.
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GES. GESCH. – Abbreviation for Gesetzlich Geschützt, meaning “Legally Protected,” essentially a patent protection marking.
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RZM M4/17 – This is the RZM code. The RZM (Reichszeugmeisterei) was the central office that regulated all political uniforms and equipment.
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M4 designates the item as a buckle.
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17 identifies the manufacturer – in this case, again Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid.
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The black leather belt is regulation pattern, with adjustment holes and fastening hook, worn by members of the Hitler Youth with their standard uniforms.