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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