1st Pattern Stadtwehr Police Gorget

Description: Outstanding example of the rare first pattern Stadtwehr Police Gorget worn by paramilitary police personnel in the city of Bremen, between the wars. The Stadtwehr was one of many paramilitary organizations, such as the Freikorps and others, that existed during the tumultuous period after WWI, to retain order. They wore military uniforms, and wore a special serial-numbered police gorget, similar to military police personnel of the German Army (at that time, the Reichswehr). This Police gorget is made out of a very light stamped metal sheet that appears to be nickel silver. Both sides have a pleasant patina that would be expected from wear and use as well as the passing of many decades. It’s in fine to excellent condition overall, with no dents or damage. This gorget is complete with its original chain, which resembles one of the types of chain that was also used on Polizei warrant disks. The gorget itself is about 6-1/2 inches long. Overall, this is a great example of a very scarce piece of interwar regalia that would compliment any Polizei collection.

Historical Background: Gorgets were originally part of a knight’s armor during medieval times. Long after suits of armor were abandoned, the gorget continued to be used in many European armies as a form of military insignia. In the Imperial German Army until 1914, gorgets were worn as a special mark of distinction by certain elite units. Following WWI, German paramilitary and police organizations used gorgets for standard bearers, as insignia, and to denote personnel assigned special tasks. Following the Nazi rise to power, there was a vast increase in the number of uniformed organizations, and a variety of new gorgets were instituted for use by these civil, political and paramiliary organizations, as well as by the military. Standard bearers of most organizations, who were entrusted with carrying flags at rallies and in parades, wore gorgets. Other gorgets indicated assignment to guard or security forces. The military police personnel of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS had their own gorgets as a part of their uniforms, and were nicknamed “chained dogs” by the troops due to the chain used to suspend the gorget around the wearer’s neck. Because gorgets were never general issue to all personnel of any organization or military branch, they were manufactured in limited numbers, and are generally scarce to encounter today.

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