WW1 German Ersatz Belt - Souvenired

A very nice WW1 German Ersatz Belt that has been souvenired by a doughboy of the American Expeditionary Force.

The belt is an early 1915 Ersatz version whereby the Prussian buckle is all brass instead of the usual brass and nickel, and the belt leather has the shiny side to the outside instead of the inside. This variation is very typical of German civilian manufacturers pressed into service during the army’s huge expansion in the late 1914 / early 1915 period.

The Belt and Buckle are in very good lightly used condition overall with the belt leather desirably still retaining its early war brown colour. From 1916 equipment was ordered to be blackened in the German Army making it difficult to find these in their original untouched state.

Rather nicely to the inside of the belt leather the souveniring American solider has written his name and serial number with then what appears to be locations he’s been. This latter part is faint however and not easy to read. The inscriptions appears to read "Pomerania  Germany and the date 1919. A further inscription is perhaps a post home address.

An interesting piece offering research potential.