Condition: Near Mint
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Description: The Feldgendarmerie Police Heer Gorget is an extremely desirable piece, more so in this exquisite condition. The Feldgendarmerie Police Heer Gorget was introduced in 1938 and was worn by all Military Police performing duties such as traffic direction, guarding of supply and ammunition and local patrol service. The Feldgendarmerie Heer Police Gorget is a half moon shaped plate, about 6-3/8” across and 2-7/8” high, made of stamped light metal, with a separate eagle and scroll along with two rounds mounted button in each corner. The Buttons, eagle and lettering on the scroll are coated in an luminous paint, making these parts glow with a light green color in the dark. The front of this gorget plate retains nearly all of the original finish, with a few spots as can be seen in the photos. The rear of the gorget features a metal hook that was used to secure it to the uniform when worn. The pressed tan fiber board is complete with no tears or staining. This gorget is complete with its original chain, made of closely formed wire links. Overall, a near mint example that would be the prize in ones 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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