East German Army Leather Service Belt

Genuine NVA Issue

This leather service belt was issued to the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA), the army of the former German Democratic Republic, for wear with the service uniform. It is a wide, heavy belt fastened by a stippled box buckle carrying the DDR state emblem, so it does a belt's job and also reads as East German kit at a glance. Collectors of Cold War militaria and reenactors putting together a correct NVA uniform are the main buyers, along with anyone who prefers a solid leather belt with real provenance over a fashion copy.

Features

• Black Leather Strap — The belt is cut from leather with a semi-gloss outer face.
• Suede-Finish Interior — The inside is left as the natural, napped flesh side of the hide, which grips the trouser waistband and keeps the belt from sliding.
• 45mm Width — At roughly 1.75 inches wide, it is broader than most dress belts and suits the wide belt loops on military trousers and tunics.
• Stippled Box Buckle — A box buckle is a flat rectangular plate that clips onto the belt end instead of using a prong through punched holes, and this one has a pebbled metal finish.
• DDR State Emblem — The buckle face carries the East German national arms in relief, a hammer and compass inside a wreath of grain.
• Metal Catch Closure — The free end is fitted with metal reinforcing tips and a wire catch that engages the back of the buckle to close the belt.
• Detachable Buckle — The buckle comes off the strap, so the belt can be adjusted, cleaned or displayed with the buckle on its own.
• National Army Issue — This is original East German government equipment, the same pattern worn by NVA soldiers.

Issue and Specification

The NVA was formed in 1956 and dissolved in 1990 at German reunification, and this belt belongs to that period of issue. It is all leather, a black strap with a suede-finish lining, closed by a white-metal box buckle. Because the DDR emblem identifies the belt's origin immediately, it is a staple item for anyone building or completing an East German uniform display.