Original Item: Only One Available. Gorgets hold an interesting place in history, as they are a throw-back to the days of knights, when suits of armor included a neck protection device called a Gorget. They have been used since that time to identify membership or function in various military and police organizations, and Gorgets were thoroughly used during the Third Reich.

This is a very nice example of a VERY rare German Schutzstaffel (SS) Standard Bearer's Gorget. These would be worn at meetings and even in the field, as only the most respected and trusted members were given the task of carrying the flag of the organization. Similar gorgets were used in other parts of the NSDAP organizational structure.

The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

The SS gorget measures 7 5/8"W by 5 1/4"H, and is completely non-magnetic, looking to be made from a brass or nickel alloy, while the attached insignia look to be plated and blacked aluminum. There is a large SS style Reichsadler (Party Eagle) in the center, and the top corner insignia are round devices with the ᛋᛋ doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) insignia of the SS. The reverse has three attachment points for a chain, two on the sides with several length choices, and one off center which is longer. This is marked with the ((RZM)) (Reichszeugmeisterei) insignia and maker marked M1/128 for Eugen Schmidhäussler of Pforzheim on the left chain clip. It is complete with the green felt protective liner on the back, which does have some staining and wear, as well as some minor mothing.

Overall condition is very good with light overall wear and oxidation on the front of the plate. It looks to originally have had a full aluminized / silver wash on the front, which is now worn except closer to the attached insignia, which prevented wear. The central eagle is still firmly attached, while the SS devices are a bit loose. The eagle is held in place by securing nuts on bolts, while the devices have bent pin attachments, which explains why they are a bit loose.

SS gorgets are the hardest to find examples of German World War Two Gorgets, and this is the first example that we have ever had. We do not expect to have another any time soon, if ever. Ready to add to your collection and display!

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH, (Shock Troops Adolf AH), and was redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925 with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9TH 1925. On January 6TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader {of the} SS), and on July 20TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm Troopers) on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by AH by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party). The SS developed the distinctive SS style cap skull and cross bones on October 6TH 1934 and introduced the SS pattern national cap eagle in February 1936. After their introductions the skull and eagle were to be worn on all forms of SS headgear.