This rare belt buckle is engraved with a crown above 'LIR' (Lothringen Infanterie Regiment), incorporating '3' and '135' (this last being the number in the German Line order of battle). There is a small silver maker's punch to the reverse of the buckle, which is also engraved with 'ERWIN KRATZ // 14.7.1912' (owner's name and commission date?).
Alsace Lorraine were granted to Germany in the peace treay at Versailles following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 and returned to France in 1919.
I have never seen one of these before and the style, if anything, shows massive French influence rather than any known German design. Patterned perhaps on the forestry buckles of the period.
If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.
[Belt Buckles : German : 19th Century]
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