SCHUPO
Well-known member
Gents,
I picked up a nice unmolested German Colonial (Schutztruppen) enlisted belt buckle recently that I thought I would show. Similar to the more common Prussian belt buckle with the crown for the King of Prussia (Wilhelm II), this one has the Imperial Crown indicating Wilhelm as the Emperor of the German Empire. This Imperial Crown insignia was worn by soldiers and sailors of the Empire serving in branches, such as the Navy, instead of German State forces that made up the bulk of the Army. This brings up a couple of questions.
I notice that buckles of this style shown in period colonial uniform plates seem to generally show enlisted native Askari troops wearing plain brass box buckles without a roundel. Askari Sergeants seem to be shown wearing the buckle shown here with the attached roundel. White troops also wear the box buckle with the roundel. Is this regulation or simply artistic license shown in the uniform plates? I have also noticed this buckle with a brass roundel instead of being made of white metal. Again what is the difference if any?
At any rate, this uncleaned brass box buckle has a white metal roundel that contains the "Gott Mit Uns" declaration around the edge and the more angular German Crown of the Empire. The roundel is lead soldered onto the brass buckle as is common with this style of buckle. These buckles were generally worn on brown leather belts by the various Colonial Troops known as Schutztruppen and Polizeitruppen.
I picked up a nice unmolested German Colonial (Schutztruppen) enlisted belt buckle recently that I thought I would show. Similar to the more common Prussian belt buckle with the crown for the King of Prussia (Wilhelm II), this one has the Imperial Crown indicating Wilhelm as the Emperor of the German Empire. This Imperial Crown insignia was worn by soldiers and sailors of the Empire serving in branches, such as the Navy, instead of German State forces that made up the bulk of the Army. This brings up a couple of questions.
I notice that buckles of this style shown in period colonial uniform plates seem to generally show enlisted native Askari troops wearing plain brass box buckles without a roundel. Askari Sergeants seem to be shown wearing the buckle shown here with the attached roundel. White troops also wear the box buckle with the roundel. Is this regulation or simply artistic license shown in the uniform plates? I have also noticed this buckle with a brass roundel instead of being made of white metal. Again what is the difference if any?
At any rate, this uncleaned brass box buckle has a white metal roundel that contains the "Gott Mit Uns" declaration around the edge and the more angular German Crown of the Empire. The roundel is lead soldered onto the brass buckle as is common with this style of buckle. These buckles were generally worn on brown leather belts by the various Colonial Troops known as Schutztruppen and Polizeitruppen.