Minifigure – Feldgendarmerie, the military police of the German Wehrmacht during World War II (LEGO Alternative)

This image shows a toy minifigure representing a member of the Feldgendarmerie, the military police of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.

The soldier is wearing a standard German Stahlhelm (steel helmet) and a field grey (Feldgrau) uniform. His specific role as a military policeman is clearly identified by several key features. Most prominent is the crescent-shaped metal plate, or gorget (Ringkragen), worn around his neck. This gorget, featuring an eagle emblem and scrolls, was the primary symbol of authority for the Feldgendarmerie and was worn while on duty. He also wears a police-style eagle insignia on his left sleeve.

In his hand, he holds a traffic signal paddle. This paddle has a red border and bears the words “HALT” and “POLIZEI” (German for “Police”), and was used for directing military traffic and controlling checkpoints.

Historical Background: The Feldgendarmerie were the uniformed military police units of the German armed forces. Their duties were extensive, including traffic control on military roads, maintaining discipline among the troops, managing prisoners of war, and hunting down deserters. Because they wore the distinctive gorget on a chain and were often tasked with harsh disciplinary duties, regular soldiers gave them the derogatory nickname Kettenhunde (“chained dogs”). They were a vital and feared component of the German military’s command and control structure.