GERMAN WWI IMPERIAL CROWN BELT BUCKLE 1915

M1915 PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. (Koppelschloß) with field grey Feldgrau finnish .

This buckle features steel construction, with a 45mm wide, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle. With the Prussian Crown, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is the Prussian motto GOTT MIT UNS (God is With Us), and a spray of laurels.

To the reverse is its welded-on buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue.

First introduced in 1847, the design of the buckle remained virtually unchanged until 1918. After January of 1915, these buckles, which were also used by the Prussian-dominated states of Baden, Oldenburg, Hansa and Thuringia, were made of zinc-plated sheet iron. Originally the box buckles came in a 50mm, (roughly 2 inches), width until 1895 when the width was reduced to 45mm, (roughly 1 3/4 inches), in an attempt to lighten the weight load of the field gear. Initially the buckles were produced of brass with a nickel/silver face plate until 1914 when steel construction buckles were introduced.

"GOTT MIT UNS " (God is with us)