Description
Product Description: This Hitler Youth Leader Gorget is a great example of an extremely rare gorget to find on the market today. The body of the gorget is made of nickel plated Tombak that retains nice original finish, with a mild patina and no damage. The front of the gorget is adorned with a large, intricately detailed, antique silvered Hitler Youth eagle emblem, with corner rosettes and an upper scroll with Bann number “386.” All of the original detail is intact, and the surface shows pleasant age toning and slight traces of honest wear. The reverse side of this seldom seen Hitler Youth Leader Gorget features a nice green wool backing that shows no holes or stains. Light wear to the surface nap has exposed the weave of the wool at the high points. All of the original retention prongs are present, with the central prong bearing a clear maker mark for “C.E. Juncker, Berlin.” This gorget has a full length chain that is complete, with a light patina matching the gorget perfectly. This is an extremely impressive display object that would be very difficult to ever upgrade. This rare and desirable piece remains in excellent condition.
Historical Description: 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 paramilitary 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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