Originally all EM/NCOs belts were produced in a blackened leather until late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnels arrival in Tripoli in February 1941 and included a canvas web construction waist belt. Due to the extreme climate in North Africa the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), decided to replace the standard continental leather equipment items with canvas web construction equipment items in the belief that they would be better able to withstand the climate. Eventually, due to leather shortages, many of the tropical uniform and equipment items would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe and other theatres of battle. (Tropen Koppel), 45mm wide, 90cm, long, woven, khaki/olive canvas web construction waist belt with an steel buckle catch. The buckle catch end of the belt is folded over and machine stitched to the reverse to secure the catch in place. The leather tongue has its original stitching and seven pair of parallel, length adjustment buckling eyelets. Individual sold visible marking: "SS Mann Soun ? "