History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

The Afrikakorps Luftwaffe Officer's belt buckle is oval shaped and features the same general obverse design as the Luftwaffe NCO/EM's belt buckle, with an encircling laurel wreath and a Luftwaffe pattern, left facing, national emblem eagle carrying a mobile swastika.

In this, the Afrikakorps Luftwaffe belt buckle is the same as the regular Luftwaffe belt buckle, except that regular gold/silver colours would have been painted over in a tan, khaki, or olive shade.

Early buckles may be produced with German silver, but the majority of buckles were made with pressed aluminum or silvered brass. The national emblem eagle was attached to the buckle base with 1 to 3 rivets and was generally made from the same material as the buckle.

The reverse of the buckle features a buckle catch and an attachment tab (belt keeper) for the brocade belt strap. It may also have a stamped manufacturer mark.
The reverse of the buckle may also be marked “D.R.G.M.” for Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster, meaning the buckle was a design registered by the German Reich.

The Afrikakorps Luftwaffe Officer's belt buckle could be worn with a tropical webbed belt, however, most Officers chose to wear the standard brown leather belt instead.