UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories German Military Uniform Forum Unpainted belt buckles/buttons

Hello,

Several sources I've seen have stated that the aluminium buttons of the WH M36 Feldbluse and the belt buckle of the service belt was ordered painted about 'the time when Germany went to war'.

Does anyone here have more specific information about when this order was given, and to what extent it was ignored?

Thanks,

Bjørn

Bjorn,

Order HV35, Nr.674, dated 07 November 1935 prescribed that buttons be made of light metal alloy, bright aluminium coloured or painted (matte field grey for field dress, olive for tropical uniforms, white for winter camouflage suits) instead of the german silver buttons of the Reichswehr period.

Uniforms other than field dress, service dress, fatigues and drill uniforms continued to have bright aluminium coloured buttons throughout the war. Most of these were worn by officers and senior NCO's in staff appointments, and often tailor made.

Use of painted buttons for issue uniforms was almost universal for uniforms manufactured after war's start, however manufacturers sometimes suffered stock shortages, and used whatever was available (including unpainted buttons) throughout the war.

I am not an authority on belt buckles and when they started getting painted.

Hope this helps.

David!

Also,

It was not unusual to see replacement buttons not matching the original as issued ones, particularly on field uniforms, and so I have seen field uniforms with one or two bright buttons, amongst the painted ones.

So they didn't stand out too much, the unpainted buttons were generally used on lower pockets or eppaulettes, so the highly visible buttons could be less obvious.

David!