A General-SS and SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) Brocade Belt and Buckle belonging to Sturmbannführer Heinrich Springer, 1st LAH

Belt is fabricated with a fine shiny aluminum wire interlaced with white threading on the upper, the outer edges trimmed in two rows of black threading on both sides with six strands of fine aluminum wire down the middle, the belt incorporating a repeating pattern with the SS Runes and oak leaves; with two sliders that have matching uppers and reverses to that of the belt but without the Runes and oak leaves. Reverse of the belt is made of black gabardine cloth. Brown leather tongue stitched in place on the underside at the right end with nine rows of two holes each for length adjustment; approximately 100 cm in total length.

Buckle is constructed of silvered aluminum, of circular construction (48.3mm), centering a stylized national eagle with outstretched, downward curving wings, with an embossed Gothic scripted SS motto - "Meine Ehre heißt Treue", (My Honor is Loyalty); buckle is maker marked on reverse "oLc 36/38" (for Overhoff & Cie, Lüdenscheid) and is dated (19)38; buckle and belt in slightly worn condition, extremely fine. This belt/buckle comes with hand written note by Mr. J. Angolia, who, while stationed in Germany during 1970’s’ personally interviewed hundreds of Knight Cross recipients for his publications, and on these occasions many items were obtained by him from directly from the recipients. A very scarce and excellent example of an Officer’s SS belt and buckle to a known recipient.

Footnote: Heinrich Springer (November 3, 1914 – October 27, 2007) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He went to the Gelehrtenschule in Meldorf. Springer trained as a civil engineer and an architect and also served as a Hitler Youth leader. As a youth in the Weimar Republic he trained to be volunteered for the Waffen SS and attended the SS officers training school at Bad Tölz, after graduation he was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He went on to command the 3rd company in 1941 with the rank of Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant). It was while in command of the 3rd company that he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. During the Battle of Rostov he seized a vital bridge over the River Don. He later commanded the 1st Company LSSAH from June 1942 to February 1943 with the rank of Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Further information on Springer is sparse. After suffering multiple wounds he was awarded the Golden Wound Badge. He then spent some time at the OKW as the Waffen SS Liaison officer working with General Alfred Jodl. He was then posted to the headquarters of the Army Group B, under Field Marshal Walter Model, where he stayed during 30 August 1944 and 5 February 1945. He was then the officer in charge of ordnance for Army Group Vistula. He then spent some time in captivity before being released and returning to his family. He died in Oelixdorf, Germany in 2007.