Derrittmeister Militaria
Mecklenburg Strelitz Belt Buckle for General Officer
Mecklenburg Strelitz Belt Buckle for General Officer
This may well be the rarest belt buckle that one can find from the Imperial German Period. It is for a General officer from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Her larger sister Grand Duchy Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the German Army’s third-largest regiment contributor among the Grand Duchies. Baden and Hessen-Darmstadt were both slightly larger. The other three Grand Duchies contributed one or two regiments at most, while Mecklenburg-Strelitz contributed less than a full regiment of men. She had one Infanterie Bataillon, one Artillerie Battery, and perhaps a few scattered men in the other regiments from Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Although Mecklenburg-Schwerin put up approximately six regiments, she never produced many Generals. That is even truer for the far smaller Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The Grand Dukes of this state were Adolf Friedrich V and Adolf Friedrich VI who ruled from 1904-1918. While I have not been able find further research this, it is most likely that the two Grand Dukes and perhaps one other officer were the only Generals fielded by Mecklenburg-Strelitz. While I have seen and offered a General Pickelhaube from Mecklenburg-Schwerin, I have never even seen one from Mecklenburg-Strelitz!
This gives you a feeling for a General’s belt buckle’s rarity. Aside from its scarcity, the beauty of the belt buckle is breathtaking. The buckle’s basic shape is similar to any German officer’s buckle. It is circular (measuring 2″ in diameter), with a wreath of laurel leaves. The buckle’s center is identical to the wappen center from a Mecklenburg-Schwerin General’s pickelhaube. It features a high-relief, silver sunburst. In its center is a multicolored enamel device that includes the Mecklenburg-Strelitz’s Crown. There is also a motto in Latin for this state. I originally thought this was a belt buckle from Mecklenburg-Schwerin as they are identical with the exception of the differing Latin motto. Aside from being on General’s pickelhauben this motto appears on certain decorations from the two Grand Duchies. The belt buckle is complete with both pieces. It can easily be mounted on a leather belt, or displayed with other items from Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
If you are a belt buckle collector, you certainly will make this your collection’s centerpiece.