Why the Most Brutal Nazi Officers Got to Wear this Metal Plate

Behind the German lines of World War 2, an enigmatic emblem caught the eye. A crescent-shaped plate of polished metal hung around the neck and rested upon the chest of some of the Nazi’s most feared soldiers. Gleaming and detailed with intricate engravings, it was worn with pride, symbolizing the wearer's unwavering commitment and chilling authority.

This emblem, known as the gorget, marked the Feldgendarmerie, Germany's terrifying military police. Initially, in territories beneath the Wehrmacht's control, they were charged with seemingly straightforward tasks: overseeing traffic, managing populations, and quelling resistance. But as the war intensified, the weight of their duty grew heavier.

By 1943, the bearers of the shining gorget were tasked with holding the line of discipline within the vast Wehrmacht. They transformed into the ultimate guardians of loyalty, the final bulwark against even a whisper of dissent. The meaning of the gorget soon darkened to serve as a stern reminder of the force that bound the German military's resolve.

In the shadows, hushed voices began bestowing eerie nicknames that seemed to echo with a foreboding resonance. Terms like "Kettenhunde" (chained dogs) and "Heldenklauer" (hero-snatchers) soon spread, turning them into looming specters of a wartime Germany that was on the verge of unraveling…

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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -

[dontect]

I can’t express how much I truly appreciate all of the hard work that goes into composing all of these pieces and making sure history is never forgotten in an interesting way. Thank you sir!

[anderspan]

Something you can still see worn by the military personnel of Finland working frontdesk of their barracks. What a history behind it...

[michaelwaller]

My dad was an US Army MP in Bremerhaven, FDR (where I was born) from 1959-'64, working customs with the Feldjager. He had nothing but respect for them.

[georgeclontd]

The gorgot was used thru out the German system among many organizations. They are quite rare and collectors items.

[sirjohndough]

Good video. How ever, the first German "MP"s were known as "Feldjäger", Feldgendermen came later. Working alongside the Feldgendermerie were the newly raised, 1943, "Feldjägerkorps".It consisted of battle hardened NCOs with several frontline medals in their possession e.g. .Iron Cross 2d class, Infantry Assault badge etc. Their purpose was to shore up the front lines, collecting stragglers, deserters and generally ensure that no rout were turned into panic. Their insignia were a red brassard worn as a sleeve band with the legend "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht/Feldjäger" in two lines.
Maybe you can do a bit about them, as they are more unknown than the Feldgendarmerie.
Reference: German Military Police Units 1939-45 by Gordon Williamson. Published by Osprey Men-at-Arms series # 213, issued in 1989 pp 12-13, 46.

[andrewcomerford]

Many militaries used the gorget (the last remnant of armour) as a mark of rank, well into the 19th Century.

[Amadoda]

Never heard of these guys before. Fascinating. Thanks for bringing this unit to the forefront.

[SuperOdyss]

You can see British Red Coat officers wearing this metal piece in paintings from the 18th century. This was the last piece of armor from the old suits of armor and was some sort of symbolic thing.

[J.C...]

I have a German Army dress coat looking thing in my closet that my grandfather brought back from the war. It's got the 2 silver tabs on the collar and the braided piece under the arm. In one of the front pockets, there's a secret access panel for one to reach into the inner breast pocket and grab their dagger if needed. Pretty slick, IMO.

[jeffreyhinzmann]

This video represents a big improvement in the quality of the historical information provided by this channel. The videos were always entertaining and basically accurate, if a bit sloppy with how nuanced past events were summarized for emphasis on the big picture and some sensationalism. Following this video, I will no longer even have this minor criticism, if I was ever fair to have it to begin with, because I no longer feel like anything was underexplained. If anything, the opposite, but I am an oddball who truly thinks there's no such thing as over explanation or too much information on a topic you want to learn about. Not only was I curious about what a gorget was (they're quite prominently visible throughout Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, for example, as well as their share of WWII movies and shows) but the additional historical and social context really adds a lot to the enjoyment of the information, at least for me.

[josesierraromero]

In Sven Hassel novels, this guys were always the Villains, hated equally by german soldiers and russian peasants

[jt]

Doing my military service in the 70s we used them. When doing our gard duties, the man in charge wear one of them. Shiny metal pieces with colours and insignia of our branch of military and where adapted. Told us it was a symbolic plate symbolic from the old harness. Beeing a guard was the boring moment in my service.

[mleafever]

First time I’ve ever seen or heard of this unit. 🤔 Thanks for the education 👏🏻

[maxvarricchio]

I did military service in Sweden in the 80th.This "metal plate" was olso used in the Swedish army then.

[joejohnson]

The Feldgendarmerie of the Wehrmacht only wore the gorget along with their shoulder boards and Litzen in orange to signify they were military police, the SS only wore the gorget as they eventually all wore the same Litzen & shoulder boards of black/white . The uniforms shown with the police patch ( Polizeiadler ) on the left upper arm and hat along with the brown French cuff were for the Ordnungspolizei or order police and they did not wear a gorget .The Sicherheitsdienst or SD wore the uniform of the SS with a blank collar tab on the right side, a Diamond shaped patch with SD on their left forearm along with a black blank cuff title .

[Pilot-X]

I was a Security Forces member (MP) in the US Air Force and it’s incredible and funny to see how MPs world wide were more feared and respected back then.

[rognvaldrasbjrn]

Thank you for the most interesting informative videos!

[watchthe]

"Chain Dogs" was the term I learned, and they were no joke. They tended to be the ones that rounded up deserters and cleaned up the rear areas just behind the front, often by summary execution. They were not like the Scherheitdinest (sp) who went hunting for trouble, but they took care of the stuff "Floating on the surface".

[stephenkeddy]

How is it I never heard of this? Awesome video!!

[geraldtrudeau]

I believe in the United States we call this Homeland Security, now. It sounds so much better than, The Army of Internal Security! Thanks for letting us know what to expect.