Diplomatic Corps 1942 Pattern Higher Career Officials Group 4 & 5 Dress Belt
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 34.GOR.02.02.03.003.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Of the highest quality in fire gilt stamped aluminum, unmarked reverse, illustrating a left-facing spread-winged eagle with its talons clenching a wreathed swastika below, on a pebbled background, surrounded by a full wreath of laurel leaves, the buckle measuring 48.3 mm. Brocade dress belt in fine aluminum wire with two rows of black embroidery on the upper, interlaced with white threading, black wool sides and underside, fire gilt aluminum receiving clip on the left end, leather tab with a suede-like finished light brown upper and raw underside stitched in place to the underside of the belt on the left end, the tab with thirteen rows of two holes each for length adjustment, named in black ink "de CHAPEAUROUGE" on the tip of the tab on its upper, stamped in black ink "92" on the tip of the tab on the underside, two sliders on the belt with matching uppers and undersides, the one slider with an extended tab in black wool, the belt measuring 46 mm x 1,050 mm. Very light contact and gilt wear on the buckle, scattered interruptions in the aluminum wire on the upper of the belt and on the sliders, the underside of the belt free of mothing. Better than extremely fine.
The Diplomatic Corps was made up of officials (civil servants) of the Foreign Ministry. This ministry was taken over in 1938 by newly appointed Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop who, for the first time, introduced specific Diplomatic Corps uniforms. Prior to 1938, there had been no defined uniforms for members of the Foreign Office.
Prior to the war, the Foreign Ministry was heavily involved in the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland. During the war, some conquered territory, especially in Poland, was incorporated into the German Reich, while other territory was merely occupied. These countries, while officially still independent, were in reality administered by German officials of the Diplomatic Corps, and in some cases also German-approved puppet governments.
It is important to remember that the officials who served within the borders of the German Reich weren’t of course part of the Foreign Ministry, but rather of the Ministry of the Interior. However, the officials of both these ministries wore nearly identical uniforms.
Officials of the Diplomatic Corps were distinguished by rank as well as their educational level. The latter determined which kind of “Laufbahn” (career) an individual was able to choose. The “Höherer Dienst” (Higher Career) required a university degree, the “Gehobener Dienst” (Elevated Career) required a college degree, the “Mittlerer Dienst” (Middle Career) required a highschool degree, and the “Einfacher Dienst” (Lower Career) required a grade school education, to put it in a simplified way. Additionally, the Higher and Elevated Careers included several different pay groups.
Uniforms for the Diplomatic Corps were first introduced in 1938. They underwent near continuous modification between then and 1943.
The 1942 pattern belts were actually introduced in March 1941 at the latest, however, they first appeared in official regulations in November of 1942. The belt for higher career Officials in groups 4 and 5 features a 44mm silver-coloured belt strap with two 5mm black stripes. The belt is completed by a 47mm round buckle of the previous design and is completely gold-coloured. The eagle’s head faces to the viewer’s left, and it is surrounded by a full laurel wreath.
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